Gorillaz announce Song Machine Live concerts
They're happening this December
Last updated 18th Sep 2020
Gorillaz are set to perform songs from their Song Machine: Season One project live for the first time shortly before Christmas.
The band led by Blur legend Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett have announced Song Machine Live, which will stream globally via LIVENow on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December 2020.
The most successful virtual band on the planet – as certified by the Guinness Book of Records - will bring their magnificent new Jamie Hewlett visuals to three thrilling live performances across three different time zones, blended together in a unique Gorillaz way.
Gorillaz’ UK and Europe performance takes place at 7pm on Sunday 13th December and tickets costing £15 are on sale from LIVENow right now.
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Gorillaz’ innovative Song Machine project launched at the start of 2020 with with Episode 1 - ‘Momentary Bliss’ ft. slowthai and Slaves. Since then, the band have been dropping new episodes every six to eight weeks throughout 2020.
Each episode consists of a new song and a video created by Gorillaz animator Jamie Hewlett. The most recent episode dropped last week and was a musical collaboration with The Cure’s Robert Smith called ‘Strange Timez’.
Six episodes in, Noodle, 2D, Murdoc and Russel have visited Morocco and Paris, London and Lake Como, as well as travelling all the way to the moon, and now they will release the full collection via the album Song Machine: Season One - Strange Timez on 23rd October 2020.
The album is available to buy physically on standard CD, vinyl and cassette; plus the 17-track Deluxe and Super Deluxe box sets. On top of this, there is a full-colour, one-of-a-kind 210-page Almanac, the very first annual from Gorillaz.
Across the 17 tracks on Song Machine: Season One - Strange Timez, Gorillaz have collaborated with Beck, Elton John, Fatoumata Diawara, Georgia, Kano, Leee John, Octavian, Peter Hook, Roxani Arias, ScHoolboy Q, St Vincent, CHAI, EARTHGANG, Goldlink, Joan As Police Woman, JPEGMAFIA, Moonchild Sanelly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Skepta, Tony Allen and the aforementioned Robert Smith, Slaves and Slowthai.
Speaking to Music Week about the Song Machine project, Damon Albarn was asked what made him release music in this innovative new way.
“I’d just had enough of having to finish a whole body of work and wait for six f---ing months,” Damon replied.
“I wanted to just do a tune a month and put it out. It hasn’t worked quite like that because of Jamie having to do so much. Animation just takes a long time, it’s impossible to do it any quicker.”
Damon also waxed lyrical about the songs Gorillaz have produced, adding: “We’re going to put it all together, we’ve got a great running order and it sounds f---ing unbelievable, it’s one of the best albums I’ve ever made.
“It’s a really strong album because every tune has that single intention to it. To make an album of all singles is such a rigorous pursuit you don’t normally do it – but accidentally, we’ve done that.”
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Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez track-listing:
1) Strange Timez (ft. Robert Smith)
2) The Valley of The Pagans (ft. Beck)
3) The Lost Chord (ft. Leee John)
4) Pac-Man (ft. ScHoolboy Q)
5) Chalk Tablet Towers (ft. St Vincent)
6) The Pink Phantom (ft. Elton John and 6LACK)
7) Aries (ft. Peter Hook and Georgia)
8) Friday 13th (ft. Octavian)
9) Dead Butterflies (ft. Kano and Roxani Arias)
10) Désolé (ft. Fatoumata Diawara) (Extended Version)
11) Momentary Bliss (ft. slowthai and Slaves)
Deluxe track-listing:
1) Strange Timez (ft. Robert Smith)
2) The Valley of The Pagans (ft. Beck)
3) The Lost Chord (ft. Leee John)
4) Pac-Man (ft. ScHoolboy Q)
5) Chalk Tablet Towers (ft. St Vincent)
6) The Pink Phantom (ft. Elton John and 6LACK)
7) Aries (feat. Peter Hook and Georgia)
8) Friday 13th (ft. Octavian)
9) Dead Butterflies (ft. Kano and Roxani Arias)
10) Désolé (ft. Fatoumata Diawara) (Extended Version)
11) Momentary Bliss (ft. slowthai and Slaves)
12) Opium (ft. EARTHGANG)
13) Simplicity (ft. Joan As Police Woman)
14) Severed Head (ft. Goldlink and Unknown Mortal Orchestra)
15) With Love To An Ex (ft. Moonchild Sanelly)
16) MLS (feat. JPEGMAFIA and CHAI)
17) How Far? (ft. Tony Allen and Skepta)