In an interview with Stuff, Damon Albarn has said that not only is he nearing completion on a new Gorillaz album, but that he is also in the midst of working on an album with a new band including Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s bassist Flea and legendary afro-beat drummer Tony Allen, who played with creator of afro-beat Fela Kuti and with whom Albarn worked with on The Good, The Bad and The Queen.
Speaking in regards to a new Gorillaz album, the band’s fourth, and how fast it’s followed the band’s third LP Plastic Beach Albarn explained that “I’ve actually taken a mobile studio with me on this tour, because it’s the longest I’ve been out on the road since, as I say, the days of Blur at its peak, so I have that luxury now of recording as I go. It’s basically a tour-diary as a record, I guess it’s my love-letter to America.”
About collaborating with Flea and Allen he said of the project that it’s “another band with Tony Allen; centred around what he does… But this time it’s him and me and Flea from the Chilli Peppers and some of my favourite African musicians will be involved also. Flea of course is an anagram for Fela and Flea is so into this music – so that’s been great.”
It can’t all be good news though as when probed about the idea of another world tour with any of these projects Albarn responded that ‘there won’t be another world tour for me – for anything – for five to six years; it would seem unlikely. I have a young daughter and it’s just not feasible, it’s too long away from home.”
Not going into details as to when we might see ay of these records, stay tuned for details. In the meantime be sure to grab your last chance to see Albarn down-under at one of the upcoming Gorillaz shows.
Perth
6th of December
Burswood Dome
Adelaide
8th of December
Entertainment Centre
Melbourne
11th of December
Rod Laver
Arena
Sydney
16th of December
Entertainment Centre
Brisbane
19th of December
Entertainment Centre
