Gorillaz – Cracker Island

Gorillaz have come a long way in the last couple of decades since the virtual group’s inception. Theirs is an oeuvre that has evolved continually across their previous seven album releases, whilst retaining distinctive roots and characteristics. It’s a trend maintained by their eighth, Cracker Island: this is the band’s eternal sound enhanced. 

The pulsating, repetitive bass lines live on; so, too, the relentless drums with prime position in the mix, and the contemporary, pernicious lyrics. As has become standard, the record is also an absolute feature-fest. This time, they collaborate with the renowned Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bootie Brown, Beck, Adeleye Omotayo, Bad Bunny and Stevie Nicks. 

But there’s something more to Cracker Island. The sound is bigger and richer than in previous instalments – there’s a near-constant wave of synth noise going on but, impressively, it’s tasteful and not overdone. This ethereal, soaring acoustic world is woven with other timbres, including marimba, whistling and steel pans, all contributing to individual tracks’ unique soundscapes. It feels considered and well-balanced, as though Gorillaz may have hit something of a sonic sweet spot.

The numbers roll through pleasantly, opening with title track Cracker Island (featuring Thundercat), which sets the scene perfectly. It immediately hails the newfound fullness that is coming the listener’s way, the well-packed soundscape here underpinned, of course, by an iconic, chunky bass line. Other highlights include Tarantula, a simmering track with a curious lullaby feel sung in Spanish, and New Gold (featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown), which harks back to the Gorillaz’s 00s heyday with some of that semi-tuneless chanting. Also of note is the moody Tired Influencer, which mourns the modern age with its tongue firmly in its cheek.

A balance has been nicely struck between the old and the new in this record. It’s a revamped home, where Murdoc Niccals’s riffs have inhabited the basement for years, 2D, Hobbs and Noodle mill around on the ground floor (as they always have), and new, exciting things are going on upstairs. Sure, it’s not as iconic as Demon Days, but it’s got a lot to live up to in that regard. We will see how time treats Cracker Island, but it might just be some of the best work Gorillaz have come up with in a long while. 

Will Snell

Cracker Island is released on 24^th February 2023. For further information or to order the album visit Gorillaz’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Cracker Island here: