GORILLAZ CRACKER ISLAND THE NEW ALBUM FROM GORILLAZ IS COMING ON FEBRUARY 24th, 2023

GORILLAZ

THE RUMORS ARE TRUE 

CRACKER ISLAND

THE NEW ALBUM FROM GORILLAZ IS COMING ON FEBRUARY 24th, 2023

LISTEN TO NEW TRACK
‘NEW GOLD ft. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown’ 
HERE

Following the long, hazy heatwave basking in the beats of summer banger ‘Cracker Island (ft. Thundercat)’, Gorillaz today announces the release of their brand new studio album titled Cracker Island, out 24th February 2023 on Warner Records. 

Today also sees the release of hotly anticipated new track ‘New Gold ft. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown’, performed live for the first time to a sold-out crowd of ecstatic fans at London’s All Points East Festival earlier this month. The band were joined on stage by Tame Impala, the psychedelic music project of Australian multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker, and longtime collaborator Bootie Brown of South Central LA alternative hip hop group The Pharcyde. Listen to ‘New Gold’ here. 

Guitarist Noodle said of the band’s new record – “Cracker Island is the sound of change and the chorus of the collective.”

Russel Hobbs added – “When the reckoning comes, gotta be ready to step through the gateway. Cracker Island’s got the entry codes…”

2D said – “The path to Cracker Island isn’t easy to find ‘cos it’s underwater.”

And Murdoc Niccals announced – “The hallowed tones of Cracker Island will soundtrack our collective ascension into the new dimension! JOIN ME!”

Cracker Island is the eighth studio album from Gorillaz, an energetic, upbeat,  genre-expansive collection of 10 tracks featuring yet another stellar lineup of artist collaborators: Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny and Bootie Brown and Beck. Recorded in London and LA earlier this year, it is produced by eight-time Grammy Award-winning producer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter extraordinaire Greg Kurstin, Gorillaz and Remi Kabaka Jr.

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. 

Gorillaz kicked off summer in a delirium of police lights and hallucinations, with the epic psychedelic video for ‘Cracker Island ft. Thundercat’ dropping in July.  Directed by artist and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and the Emmy nominated director, Fx Goby, Cracker Island – which takes viewers on a late night journey into the City of Angels – hit the Top 10 in YouTube’s Music Video Charts in Ireland, the UK, US, Australia and Canada, and is now at almost 12.5M views after racking up 10M views in 10 days. The video drop also blew up the band’s Tiktok with the account hitting 2M followers and counting. Watch it again HERE! 

The extensive Gorillaz World Tour 2022 which started in South America earlier in the year has seen the band thrilling crowds in Europe and Australia – Gorillaz’ first visit down under in 12 years – before a one-off homecoming show in London at All Points East last week. A hugely anticipated U.S. run of shows in September and October will kick off in Vancouver on 11th September. Complete list of dates here.

Cracker Island – FORMATS INFORMATION:  

• Digital Download (11 tracks)
• Standard (10 tracks) CD incl Booklet and Poster, Black 12” Vinyl, Transparent Purple 12” Vinyl
• Deluxe Vinyl Box (10 tracks) Lift Off Lid Box,Opaque Pink 12” Vinyl, CD, ‘Cracker Island’ 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 Colored 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

Cracker Island – FULL TRACKLISTING: 

1. Cracker Island ft. Thundercat
2. Oil ft. Stevie Nicks
3. The Tired Influencer
4. Tarantula
5. Silent Running ft. Adeleye Omotayo
6. New Gold ft. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown
7. Baby Queen
8. Tormenta ft. Bad Bunny
9. Skinny Ape
10. Possession Island ft. Beck

Download High Res Press Shots HERE. 

ABOUT GORILLAZ
Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz is singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle. The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world with their colorful backstory and ground-breaking virtual ways. Based at Kong Studios in West London, Gorillaz settled into a life of musical innovation with an eye-wateringly exciting roster of collaborators, a list that includes musical legends, geniuses and future stars from Elton John to Little Simz, MF Doom to Jean-Michel Jarre, Grace Jones to slowthai, Kali Uchis to Sidiki Diabaté, plus so many more. With seven albums to their name, Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018) and Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez (2020), Gorillaz is a truly global phenomenon, achieving success in entirely new and unique ways, touring the world from San Diego to Syria, Montevideo to Manchester and winning numerous awards including the coveted Jim Henson Creativity Honor.

www.gorillaz.com

OFF! share shocking "Kill To Be Heard" video

OFF!, the quartet of Keith Morris (Circle Jerks), Dimitri Coats, Justin Brown (Thundercat) and Autry Fulbright II (...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead), have just shared a new video/single “Kill To Be Heard,” the second proper taste of their first new full-length in eight years, Free LSD (out September 30 from Fat Possum). The video draws its stunning footage from the forthcoming Free LSD feature film (the making of which was detailed last month in an expansive behind-the-scenes feature in SPIN), that also yielded the video for previous single “War Above Los Angeles” which arrived in conjunction with the album’s announcement last month. “Kill To Be Heard” features appearances from D.H. Peligro (Dead Kennedys), Don Bolles (Germs), David Yow (Jesus Lizard), Davey Havok (AFI), Chloe Dykstra, Chris D. (Flesh Eaters), Chelsea Debo, and more. Watch the “Kill To Be Heard” video https://youtu.be/I613dabsscU  The 2 minute furnace blast of “Kill To Be Heard” is a poignant demonstration that the addition of new members Brown and Fulbright has imbibed the band’s signature high-anxiety hardcore volatility with a new swing, pushing the concept of punk into another dimension. Speaking on the song’s themes, Morris asks “When will we everyday good Josephines and Josephs be free from homegrown terrorists and the rest of our population that has absolutely no knowledge or bought into the ‘White-washed’ history of our country? There were amazing human beings here before us..........” The new lineup is set to bring the experimental flair of the Free LSD album experience to the live arena during a trio of shows in Spain and full US tour that kick off in October (see full dates below).  Watch the “War Above Los Angeles” video https://youtu.be/LBWUgluGdTw  Pre-save / Pre-order FREE LSD https://offband.lnk.to/FreeLSD Find OFF! tickets here https://www.offofficial.com/live

OFF! photo by Steve Appleford  OFF! TOUR DATES (All dates marked * w/ Zulu) 10/6 - Bilbao, Spain - Kafe Antzokia 10/7 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Upload 10/8 - Madrid, Spain - Block Party Arganzuela 10/24 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar  10/25 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole  10/26 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf  10/28 - Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co.  10/29 - Austin, TX @ Levitation Festival 10/31 - Memphis, TN @ Black Lodge Video  11/1 - Nashville, TN @ Basement East * 11/2 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West * 11/4 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall * 11/5 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage * 11/6 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church * 11/10 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom * 11/11 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall * 11/12 - Montreal, QC @ Cafe Campus * 11/13 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace * 11/16 - Detroit, MI @ Third Man Records * 11/17 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall * 11/18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line * 12/8 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive * 12/9 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive * 12/10 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge * 12/12 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey * 12/13 - Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw * 12/14 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios * 12/16 - San Francisco, CA @ Independent * 12/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room

Free LSD cover art by Raymond Pettibon  FREE LSD TRACK LISTING 1. Slice Up The Pie 2. Time Will Come 3. War Above Los Angeles 4. Kill To Be Heard 5. F 6. Invisible Empire 7. Circuitry’s God 8. Ignored 9. Black Widow Group 10. L 11. Muddy The Waters 12. Murder Corporation 13. Behind The Shifts 14. Worst Is Yet To Come 15. S 16. Suck The Bones Dry 17. Smoking Gun 18. Peace Or Conquest 19. Free LSD 20. D     FOLLOW OFF! Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

RÖYKSOPP SHARE "SPEED KING" & "THE NIGHT (FT. ALISON GOLDFRAPP)"

RÖYKSOPP SHARE SPEED KING AND THE NIGHT FEATURING ALISON GOLDFRAPP THE FIRST TRACKS REVEALED FROM THE CONCLUDING PART OF THEIR PROFOUND MYSTERIES SERIES  PROFOUND MYSTERIES III  SET FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 18, 2022

Credit: Angelina Mamoun-Bergenwall “As human beings, what we don’t know vastly overshadows what we do know…….” (Röyksopp)   Fresh from announcing the upcoming conclusion to their acclaimed Profound Mysteries project, Röyksopp now share a first taste of how Part III sounds in the shape of the spine-tingling, vocoder-epic Speed King and interstellar electro-romp The Night, featuring Alison Goldfrapp. Profound Mysteries III will be released on November 18, 2022 and in addition to the aforementioned Alison Goldfrapp it features guest appearances from Susanne Sundfør, Astrid S, Jamie Irrepressible, Pixx, and Maurissa Rose. Speaking about Profound Mysteries III Svein Berge & Torbjørn Brundtland said: “With Profound Mysteries part III, we conclude our triple album endeavor. Beneath its golden, shimmering sheen, lie levels of ambiguity and contrast; the sweet and the harrowing, the wonderful and the wrong. We are human, we dream.” Listen to Speed King Watch the visualiser created by Jonathan Zawada Watch the short film directed by Markus Tangre

Art by Jonathan Zawada. Listen to The Night Watch the visualizer created by Jonathan Zawada Watch the short film directed by Johan Stahl

Art by Jonathan Zawada.  To coincide with the announcement of Profound Mysteries III, Röyksopp also revealed details of a series of vinyl editions for the entire campaign, marking the first time the music has appeared in this format. A deluxe 6LP box set housing all of the music from Profound Mysteries as well as an exclusive 32 page booklet designed by Jonanthan Zawada is complemented by individual 2LP releases for each part of Profound Mysteries. Pre order Profound Mysteries III Listen to Profound Mysteries here Listen to Profound Mysteries II here Profound Mysteries III cover art and tracklisting

Download Profound Mysteries III  Credit: Jonathan Zawada 1. So Ambiguous feat. Jamie Irrepressible 2. Me&Youphoria 3. Stay Awhile feat. Susanne Sundför 4. The Night feat. Alison Goldfrapp 5. Lights Out feat. Pixx 6. Speed King 7. The Next Day feat. Jamie Irrepressible 8. Just Wanted To Know feat. Astrid S 9. Feel It feat. Maurissa Rose 10. Like An Old Dog feat. Pixx Pre order Profound Mysteries III Profound Mysteries II cover art and tracklisting

​​Download Profound Mysteries  Credit: Jonathan Zawada 1. Demiclad Baboons 2. Let’s Get It Right feat. Astrid S 3. Unity feat. Karen Harding 4. Oh, Lover feat. Susanne Sundför 5. Sorry feat. Jamie Irrepressible 6. Control  7. It Was A Good Thing feat. Pixx 8. Remembering The Departed 9. Tell Him feat. Susanne Sundför 10. Some Resolve Profound Mysteries cover art and tracklisting

Download Profound Mysteries  Credit: Jonathan Zawada 1. (Nothing But) Ashes... 2. The Ladder 3. Impossible feat. Alison Goldfrapp 4. This Time, This Place… feat. Beki Mari 5. How The Flowers Grow feat. Pixx 6. If You Want Me feat. Susanne Sundfør 7. There, Beyond The Trees 8. Breathe feat. Astrid S 9. The Mourning Sun feat. Susanne Sundfør 10. Press «R»

In Profound Mysteries Röyksopp continue to surprise and delight, with their visionary concept bringing music to life in a visually contemporary context, finding new ways to inspire and excite.   As teenagers, Berge and Brundtland would discuss their own fascination and preoccupation with the infinite and the impossible – the most profound mysteries of life. On Profound Mysteries they hope to have explored at least some of them.   Of course those profound questions are never answered and in that mystery lies the beauty of life. Deep dive in to Profound Mysteries here: https://profoundmysteries.royksopp.com/ Röyksopp live: 3rd September - Cala Mijas 2022-Mijas, Spain 9th September - On Air, Warsaw (DJ Set) 10th September – Bolivar Beach Bar-Athens, Greece (DJ set) 5th November - Iceland Airwaves, (DJ Set) Tickets available here  Press R | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Secret Machines Share "Underneath the Concrete" Single via Glide Magazine | Self-Titled LP Digital Reissue Due September 23

Secret Machines Share "Underneath the Concrete" Single via Glide Magazine Read the Pilerats, The Fire Note, VENTS Magazine, Ghost Cult Magazine, and Thoughts Words Action Features Self-Titled LP Digital Reissue Due September 23

Photo credit: Lindsay Nustra Karnats PRE-SAVE: Secret Machines - Secret Machines LP Pre-Save LISTEN & SHARE: Secret Machines - "Underneath the Concrete" Stream LISTEN & SHARE: Secret Machines - "The Fire Is Waiting" Stream LISTEN & SHARE: Secret Machines - Day 21 EP Stream LISTEN & SHARE: Secret Machines - Dreaming of Dreaming (Reissue) EP Stream LISTEN & SHARE: Secret Machines - "Day 21" Stream LISTEN & SHARE: Secret Machines - "Dreaming of Dreaming" (Mavrogeorgis and Sclavunos Version) Stream "The larger-than-life, 11-minute song layers cosmic-psychedelic sonic elements onto mighty, masterful drumming by Josh Garza" - Cool Hunting "Sludgy guitars stomp and roar, while rumbling percussion threatens to tear away the skin and muscle from your bones. A doom metal track in prog clothing, it’s loud and volatile and harnesses a ferocious energy few bands could hope to contain. Prepare to lose yourself within its mesmerizing thunder all over again." - Beats Per Minute "Awake in the Brain Chamber is best when Curtis is at his most vulnerable—giving himself a pep talk in the call-and-response chorus of 'Everything Starts,' muttering 'I want to give up' all too believably throughout the chorus of 'Talos’ Corpse,' before amending himself—'I want to give up, but don’t.' They sound like they have much more to give." - Pitchfork "Secret Machines stood out with their entrancing combination of propulsive rock ’n’ roll, droning textures and winding arrangements" - The New York Times "A spacey rock album that feels like a mash-up of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Amon Düül II, with just enough progressive influences to stand out a little" - Beats Per Minute A stylish return for one of the underground’s most cherished acts. - Under the Radar "Monolithic space-rock sound from the primal thud of drummer Josh Garza and the hypnotic instrumental textures of brothers Brandon and Benjamin Curtis [...] Falls snuggly in that psychedelic space between the jamband and guitar-rock scenes" - Relix "The result is a deeply felt production informed by the group's long-standing love of ambient music, psych-pop, and kinetic, '70s-style Krautrock." - All Music "A surprising reunion, The Secret Machines have successfully opened a new decade with Awake in the Brain Chamber, a comeback album that sounds right at home with their past releases while painting a way forward if the band continues to explore their rock cosmos." - Glide Magazine "Featuring the experimental, space rock sounds that are revered and beloved by fans and critics alike, Awake in the Brain Chamber is an album that has been through many versions and incarnations. It has become a symbol of rebirth, presenting a new narrative and territory for the stories left unsaid." - XSNOIZE Today, Secret Machines share "Underneath the Concrete," the second revamped single off the recently announced digital reissue of their highly acclaimed self-titled record, remastered by Simon Scott (Slowdive) and originally released on October 14, 2008 via TSM Recordings with original members Brandon Curtis (vocals, bass, keys) and Josh Garza (drums), with Phil Karnats (guitar). With this release, the track is available via all DSPS for the very first time. Speaking on "Underneath the Concrete," the band wrote the following:  "Paranoia on the subway? Subterranean homesick snooze? Gotta be a coin flip on this one.” - Brandon Curtis "A motor skill beat and cascading guitar lines counterbalance to form an almost liquid fluidity." - Phil Karnats Recently, Secret Machines shared a new double EP featuring a reissue of their Dreaming of Dreaming EP and an EP of new content entitled Day 21. The new release includes their recently released singles: "Day 21” (off the latter) and “Dreaming of Dreaming (Mavrogeorgis and Sclavunos version)” (off the former), which was recorded/engineered by Jim Sclavunos, drummer/percussionist for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.  Jim Sclavunos said of Secret Machines: “Secret Machines were one of the absolute coolest live bands from this wonderful era of the NY scene. Getting to work with them in the studio was a thrill & a downright pleasure.” SECRET MACHINES LINKS Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Secret Machines Bio: It’s tempting to think of Secret Machines' self-titled album as the beginning of the end for the band’s first chapter — a heady, largely overlooked hint of the decade-long slumber they’d slip into two years later. After all, the circumstances surrounding the record would test the resolve of even the most tight-knit bands. In 2007, co-founding guitarist Benjamin Curtis — who passed away from a rare form of lymphoma in 2013 — left his brother Brandon and Secret Machines’ stellar drummer Josh Garza behind to focus on his new project School of Seven Bells. The saving grace of Benjamin’s departure from Secret Machines despite two buzz-worthy albums and years of electrifying live shows together, however, was guitarist Phil Karnats. A fellow Dallas native who played alongside Brandon and Benjamin in the psych-pop band Tripping Daisy, he wasted no time falling into place alongside Josh’s lead-footed rhythms and Brandon’s sinewy, rip-roaring hooks.  Or as Pitchfork wrote in their review of Secret Machines nearly 15 years ago, Karnats’ robust, laser-focused riffs lock right into “the group’s menacing melodies and pulsing beats” for 48 winding minutes, “lending even relatively short tracks… the feel of epics.”  Here’s the thing though: Secret Machines’ original label (the Frank Sinatra-founded Reprise Records) never quite got the group. Warner Brothers’ way of supporting the trio’s powerful sound in the four years between their breakout debut (2004’s Now Here is Nowhere) and the Secret Machines sessions wasn’t to try and wrap their heads around it. They’d rather boost the band’s studio budget until it burst and hope a hit would emerge from the ether.  That is until they heard Secret Machines’ third album. Reprise was so perplexed by the bold LP they immediately hit the brakes and refused to promote it. “One particular guy epitomized the vibe,” explains Brandon. “He was obviously unhappy with the record, but the way he communicated his feelings was so convoluted. He asked us to make changes, and as I expressed our willingness to discuss any ideas he may have, he just kept saying ‘no.’ I’m not sure what he was even saying ‘no’ to!” “At that point,” adds Josh, “the writing was on the wall. They felt like they’d given us a chance and were really upfront. So we asked them to give us the album and they were like, ‘Sure, take the album; no harm, no foul.’”  Reprise’s eagerness to cut their ties from Secret Machines led to a rushed, ill-fated deal with World’s Fair Label Group. While it had already worked with such reputable artists and imprints as Rough Trade, Jarvis Cocker, and Daptone, the part-time PR company shuttered its own label right in the middle of a Canadian tour that was supposed to support the band’s self-titled record. A record it hadn’t bothered to officially release, mind you.  “People didn’t even know the album was out,” says Josh. “Things got really bad from there and started leaving a bad taste in our mouth. Our problem was never with the music, though; it was with the business itself.” The good news about Secret Machines’ DOA status is that it’s finally being released as it was originally intended. Much like a long overdue director’s cut, it now features a dynamic sequence that makes far more sense in the long run than the original and boasts the added benefit of hindsight and a renewed sense of purpose within the group’s widescreen back catalog.  Rather than spark the record’s proceedings with the candy-laced chords and immediate hooks of “Atomic Heels,” the power trio now knocks our jowls back like a Maxwell ad with the jarring opening of “The Fire is Waiting.” It’s as if they’re daring us to step one foot closer, only to reward our patience with a subtle recorder pattern from glam-rock demigod Tony Visconti and a windswept, 11-minute sequence Phil rightfully describes as “like being swallowed up by an indomitable, mountainous wave, bated breath and an inevitable end.”  Bringing the record into full relief are crisp remastered recordings by Slowdive drummer Simon Scott, and tracks that have taken on a new life in 2022 — from the torn space-time continuum of “The Walls are Starting to Crack” to the simmering intro and gleaming, rigid groove of “Have I Run Out.”   “In keeping with the themes of this album,” says Brandon, “chaos prevails….”  - Written by Andrew Parks Secret Machines - TRACKLISTING 01. The Fire Is Waiting 02. Last Believer Drop Dead 03. Have I Run Out 04. Underneath The Concrete 05. Now You're Gone 06. Atomic Heels 07. The Walls Are Starting To Crack 08. I Never Thought To Ask