Gorillaz Announce New Album, ‘Cracker Island’; Share Single ‘New Gold’
Gorillaz have shared details of their new album Cracker Island alongside the release of latest single New Gold featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown.
The record is released on February 24, 2023 via Parlophone and marks the follow-up to 2020’s Song Machine, Season One – Strange Timez.
The album will be available in the following formats: digital download (11 tracks); standard (10 tracks) CD including booklet and poster, black 12” vinyl, transparent purple 12” Vinyl; deluxe vinyl box (10 tracks) lift off lid box, opaque pink 12” vinyl, CD, 7” etched single with alternative single art, The Last Cult pink pocket notebook, 5x art prints, 1x poster, 1x sticker sheet; limited edition collectors box (10 tracks) limited edition numbered product, lift off lid box, 10x coloured 7” singles with exclusive screen printed character art on the disc and exclusive art on every sleeve; Cracker Island cassettes (10 tracks) 4x exclusive character art cassettes.
Pre-order Cracker Island here.
The virtual band, headed up by Damon Albarn, has a host of collaborators on their eighth studio album including Stevie Nicks, Bad Bunny, Beck, Thundercat, Adeleye Omotayond and the aforementioned Tame Impala and Bootie Brown.
The album has been produced by eight-time Grammy Award-winning producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Greg Kurstin along with Gorillaz and Remi Kabaka Jr.
The band have also shared New Gold, which follows on from first single Cracker Island. Gorillaz debuted the track live at their headline All Points East show in London on August 19 with both Kevin Parker of Tame Impala and Bootie Brown joining the band onstage.
“It’s kind of a mad song, to be honest with you,” Albarn told the crowd at the time.
Press material about Gorillaz’s new album states: “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.”
Guitarist Noodle said of the their new record: “Cracker Island is the sound of change and the chorus of the collective.” Drummer Russel added: “When the reckoning comes, gotta be ready to step through the gateway. Cracker Island’s got the entry codes…”
Singer 2D said: “The path to Cracker Island isn’t easy to find ‘cos it’s underwater”, while bassist Murdoc added: “The hallowed tones of Cracker Island will soundtrack our collective ascension into the new dimension! JOIN ME!”
Cracker Island tracklist:
Cracker Island (feat. Thundercat)
Oil (feat. Stevie Nicks)
The Tired Influencer
Tarantula
Silent Running (ft. Adeleye Omotayo)
New Gold (ft. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown)
Baby Queen
Tormenta (feat. Bad Bunny)
Skinny Ape
Possession Island (feat. Beck).
Pre-order Cracker Island here.