Jamie Hewlett, the guy behind Gorillaz' animation, announced on his Instagram over the weekend that the iconic band would be reforming and that new material was on the way, four years after the release of their last album, 2011's The Fall. Since then, pretty much everyone has reported the story, but no one's asked the most important question of all: who will they be working with? Much like Sway Colloway, we don't have the answers. But we do have some suggestions...
Jamie Hewlett, the guy behind Gorillaz' animation, announced on his Instagram over the weekend that the iconic band would be reforming and that new material was on the way, four years after the release of their last album, 2011's The Fall. Since then, pretty much everyone has reported the story, but no one's asked the most important question of all: who will they be working with? Much like Sway Colloway, we don't have the answers. But we do have some suggestions...
Danny Brown
OK, so it's almost a certainty that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett will want at least one rapper on the album. It's also pretty much guaranteed that one of those guest spots will go to De La Soul. Besides the De La boys, we think Danny Brown would be perfect on a new Gorillaz LP. In fact, we can't think of a single rapper who would fit better on the album with his larger-than-life personality and completely unique flow. And you just know the video would be indescribably nuts.
Ian Brown
Two Mancunian legends have already made it onto Gorillaz albums in the past: Shaun Ryder ("Dare") and The Fall's Mark E Smith ("Glitter Freeze"). Since it's pretty unlikely that Morrissey and Mick Hucknall will get involved, it seems criminal that they wouldn't get Ian "King Monkey" Brown. Get it? Monkey, Gorillaz... Oh, forget it.
Denai Moore
Another element that makes a good Gorillaz album a great one, is drafting in a soul or R&B singer. But not just any singer: Albarn and Hewlett have pretty discerning tastes and won't just collaborate with anyone. From what we've seen, a singer worthy of inclusion would have to be someone with a unique style, a proven history of songwriting and presence, and Denai Moore certainly fits the bill. Just listen to SBTRKT's "The Light" if you don't believe us.
Years & Years' Olly Alexander
Years & Years had a pretty massive year in 2014, so how better to top it than partnering up with Gorillaz? Y&Y are pretty well-accustomed to synth-pop so there wouldn't be much of a teething process here; it'd be pretty easy for Alexander and Albarn to find their collective stride and start tapping into the weirdest recesses of electronic pop.
