Gorillaz Release EP ‘Meanwhile’
On August 26th, virtual band Gorillaz released their latest project Meanwhile EP. The group is fronted by Damon Albarn (of Blur), and artist Jamie Hewlett creates most of the illustrations/artwork. This EP is classic Gorillaz: frequent collaborations and combining various genres. The project consists of 3 tracks and features Jelani Blackman, Barrington Levy, AJ Tracey, and Alicai Harley.
Gorillaz frequently collaborates with rap artists and pairs their verses with more experimental production. The first track “Meanwhile” consists of Damon, Jelani Blackman, and Barrington Levy switching off on the verses, all accompanied by a melodic beat. It’s a relatively simple track, but a great one nonetheless.
The second track “Jimmy Jimmy” has a bit of a darker sound to it, it’s more bass-heavy and features Damon hauntingly calling out “Jimmy Jimmy” throughout the verses. While the lyrics are anything but melancholy, the instrumental is a stark contrast.
Last on the tracklist is “Deja Vu”, not to be confused with Olivia Rodrigo’s smash hit of the same name. This track isn’t a power ballad, but instead features steel drums and almost transports listeners to a tropical environment. This track is actually live (from NW10) and has a more raw sound to it. The track feels really authentic and is the most upbeat song off this EP. It’s a great note to end the project on, as it leaves listeners feeling both relaxed and refreshed.
This was the first project that Gorillaz has released after a series of remixes that were released in honor of the group’s 20th anniversary. The group went on a hiatus after their 2010 album Plastic Beach but returned in 2017 with the full-length album Humanz. Since then, they have been consistently releasing music and playing shows, which is awesome. Overall, I really enjoyed this EP, and I look forward to their next full-length project.
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