The virtual band created by Damon Albarn and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett of "Tank Girl" fame. This review is going to ignore the comic character side of this and focus on the music, which might be a reversal of what most people focus on when it comes to this project. This time around Albarn not only includes a wide variety of new guests, but works with producers Remi Kabak Jr and Adele producer Greg Kurstin. Unlike most pop music today there are only two producers rather than a baker's dozen. The title track reminds me of the Faint in the way the synths groove. Thundercat lends his voice to the backing vocals , but does not have a distinct tone to his voice has he could be any funk adding color by numbers soul stylings. The disco vibe of the song works pretty well.
The second song has Stevie Nicks on it , but on the first listen , her voice was not recognized , so I had to go back and give a closer listen, this time I found her layered under Albarn on the second verse. Once again the songwriting is groove oriented and a fun listen. Lyrically the social commentary of "Tired Influencer" puts a sardonic perspective on today's Tik Tok culture. "Silent Running" sounds like Albarn just woke up and dialed one in. "New Gold" features Tame Impala and Bootie Brown, and sounds like disco from the moon meets 90s hip hop. "Baby Queen" is more relaxed and less space disco , more like stoner pop with a side order of pills. It floats in a surreal manner I can appreciate. "Tarantula" is more upbeat, and marginally more organic sounding. His vocals remain at the same lethargic croon that the album began with even as the tempo picks up under him. This makes the album begin to drag.
"Tormenta" was the first single released. Bad Bunny does a guest spot this one. His voice is also very generic for his respective genre. It feels like Albarn is just throwing forays into varied forms of pop and seeing what sticks, which dilutes the cohesion of the album. "Skinny Ape" finds him wandering in more of a Brit pop direction, if he asked an AI what Brit pop sounds like. I get that this is weird pop, but some hooks might be nice. The last song is a duet with Beck which feels like a waste of time, his vocals are mixed under Albarn's for the majority of the song and if his name was not listed on the track I would not have know he was even there, the song is also kinda boring. I will give this album an 8, it is well done from a production stance, but loses inspiration in the third act as it becomes to streamlined.
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