Gorillaz at Copper Box Arena. Photo by Phoebe Fox.
On September 3, Gorillaz closed out their 4-night London House of Kong residency by performing a new album and bringing out featured guests Sparks and Johnny Marr, Stereogum reports.
When they announced the residency, the band promised to play Gorillaz on August 29, Demon Days the following night, and Plastic Beach on September 2. The fourth and final date, a phone-free “Mystery Show,” had fans speculating that the band might tease their long-awaited new album expected to come out sometime this year.
During the show, the band debuted ten songs in four languages. Three of the tracks are allegedly called “The Happy Dictator” featuring Sparks, “Fresh Arrivals” with guests Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey, and “The Sad God” featuring Anoushka Shankar, Joe Talbot, Johnny Marr, Trueno, Gruff Rhys, and Paul Simonon.
According to NME, one fan said the album brought the band to new territory. “The soundscape of this album is like nothing I’ve ever heard from this band… Almost perfect album,” they wrote. “Gorillaz really outdid themselves with this one.”
The 4-night residency at London’s Copper Box Arena coincided with the final week of the House of Kong 25th anniversary exhibition, which was open from August 8 to September 3. The British virtual band’s last project was their eighth studio album, 2023’s Cracker Island. The title of their new album and its release date, have both not been revealed.
