KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * * * *
This album is set in West London where former Blur and now Gorillaz main man Damon Albarn lives. But his latest side project, produced by Gnarls Barkley's Dangermouse, could be applied to any city in the world. This is folk music for city slickers. It's just as weird and wonderful as Gorillaz and Gnarls but don't expect anything as catchy or engaging as Feelgood Inc. or Crazy. Instead, think of GBQ as an entirely different musical world that sounds like it came to Albarn during a long woozy dream.
Sometimes his forlorn rants are dreary and it's not helped by the melancholy of the music. But then you're drawn back in when he hits gentle highs (on trickling ditty Behind the Sun) or swooning monotones (on the shoo-wop of 80s Life and single Herculean).
Also in the band are Clash bass player Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong (who played with Albarn in Gorillaz and Blur) and world music drummer Tony Allen who, along with Fela Kuti, helped pioneer Afrobeat in the late 60s. His crazed skill comes through here, especially on the spooky Bunting Song.
Life away from Gorillaz and Gnarls isn't exactly a cartoon caper, but take a wander in your city with GBQ as the soundtrack and be lulled into a delicious daze.
Verdict: Another Damon Albarn project. Another album produced by Dangermouse. Ready now.
Label: Parlophone
