Following the long, hazy heatwave basking in the beats of summer banger ‘Cracker Island (ft. Thundercat)’, Gorillaz today announces the release of their brand new studio album titled Cracker Island, out 24th February 2023 on Warner Records.
Today also sees the release of hotly anticipated new track ‘New Gold ft. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown’, performed live for the first time to a sold-out crowd of ecstatic fans at London’s All Points East Festival earlier this month. The band were joined on stage by Tame Impala, the psychedelic music project of Australian multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker, and longtime collaborator Bootie Brown of South Central LA alternative hip hop group The Pharcyde. Listen to ‘New Gold’ here.
Guitarist Noodle said of the band’s new record – “Cracker Island is the sound of change and the chorus of the collective.”
Russel Hobbs added – “When the reckoning comes, gotta be ready to step through the gateway. Cracker Island’s got the entry codes…”
2D said – “The path to Cracker Island isn’t easy to find ‘cos it’s underwater.”
And Murdoc Niccals announced – “The hallowed tones of Cracker Island will soundtrack our collective ascension into the new dimension! JOIN ME!”
Cracker Island is the eighth studio album from Gorillaz, an energetic, upbeat, genre-expansive collection of 10 tracks featuring yet another stellar lineup of artist collaborators: Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny and Bootie Brown and Beck. Recorded in London and LA earlier this year, it is produced by eight-time Grammy Award-winning producer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter extraordinaire Greg Kurstin, Gorillaz and Remi Kabaka Jr.
Originally based at Kong Studios in West London, the group of musical misfits – Murdoc, Noodle, Russel and 2D – have relocated to Silverlake, California as they recruit new members to join ‘The Last Cult’, in search of the one truth to fix the world. Reports from the Golden State indicate that Murdoc is in love with the lady next door. Russel is glued to the TV. Noodle is compiling a handbook of wisdom and knowledge. And 2D is busy being 2D.
Gorillaz kicked off summer in a delirium of police lights and hallucinations, with the epic psychedelic video for ‘Cracker Island ft. Thundercat’ dropping in July. Directed by artist and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and the Emmy nominated director, Fx Goby, Cracker Island – which takes viewers on a late night journey into the City of Angels – hit the Top 10 in YouTube’s Music Video Charts in Ireland, the UK, US, Australia and Canada, and is now at almost 12.5M views after racking up 10M views in 10 days. The video drop also blew up the band’s Tiktok with the account hitting 2M followers and counting. Watch it again HERE!
The extensive Gorillaz World Tour 2022 which started in South America earlier in the year has seen the band thrilling crowds in Europe and Australia – Gorillaz’ first visit down under in 12 years – before a one-off homecoming show in London at All Points East last week. A hugely anticipated U.S. run of shows in September and October will kick off in Vancouver on 11th September. Complete list of dates here.