(ft. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar)” OUT NOW
New Album
THE MOUNTAIN
Out February 27th
L.A. SHOWS FEATURING THE MOUNTAIN PLAYED IN ITS ENTIRETY
February 22nd & 23rd at Hollywood Palladium
HOUSE OF KONG
AN EXHIBITION LIKE NO OTHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN L.A. & LAST TIME ANYWHERE
LIMITED 4-WEEK RUN
February 26th – March 19th
ROLLING GREENS, DOWNTOWN L.A.
WATCH EXHIBITION TRAILER HERE
Exhibition Tickets Available HERE
Gorillaz climbs further up The Mountain with a new track out today titled “Orange County (ft. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar)”, which comes with its companion track “The Hardest Thing (ft Tony Allen).” Side by side on new studio album The Mountain – out February 27th on Gorillaz’ own new label KONG – the two tracks are also available now on a limited-edition Double A Side 7” vinyl. Experience the full two track 8-minute piece as intended HERE.
Written by Damon Albarn, “The Hardest Thing” opens with the voice of longtime collaborator and friend, the pioneering musician and drummer Tony Allen who passed away in 2020. The song is a beautiful exploration of grief and hope, both central themes on new album The Mountain, with the haunting lyric, “You know the hardest thing is to say goodbye to someone you love, That is the hardest thing” carrying through into “Orange County.” The uplifting track sees Albarn joined by singer-songwriter and poet Kara Jackson on vocals, as well as four-time Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar. Produced by Gorillaz and Bizarrap, “Orange County” was written by Damon Albarn, former U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate, Kara Jackson, and two-time Latin Grammy-winning, Argentine artist, producer and musical innovator Bizarrap.
The Mountain is Gorillaz’ ninth studio album, an expansive sonic landscape of instruments and sounds, richly layered with voices, melodies and addictive beats, spanning a collection of 15 songs that embody the very essence of Gorillaz’ collaborative ethos. The record features an extraordinary list of artists and collaborators including: Ajay Prasanna, Amaan & Ayaan Ali Bangash, Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle, Asha Puthli, Bizarrap, Black Thought, Gruff Rhys, IDLES, Jalen Ngonda, Johnny Marr, Kara Jackson, Omar Souleyman, Paul Simonon, Sparks, Trueno and Yasiin Bey; as well as the voices of friends and collaborators who have gone before us, including Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Dennis Hopper, Mark E Smith, Proof and Tony Allen. The Mountain is a playlist for a party on the border between this world and whatever happens next, exploring the journey of life and the thrill of existence.
The Mountain’s release will coincide with a week-long Gorillaz takeover of Los Angeles featuring the Downtown L.A opening of House of Kong. The internationally celebrated multi-sensory excursion into the world of Gorillaz will make its L.A. debut and kick off its last run anywhere February 26th, running through March 19th at Rolling Greens. Tickets are on sale now and a new trailer has been unveiled at https://youtu.be/RHIL2yfOaOc. Prior to the House of Kong L.A. opening, the new album will be performed in its entirety by Damon Albarn and the Gorillaz live band featuring special guests at two very special one-off shows February 22nd and 23rd at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium.
“Orange County (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar)” + ”The Hardest Thing (feat. Tony Allen)” is a double single release, available digitally and as a limited-edition Double A Side 7 inch vinyl. Listen HERE.
Listen to previously released tracks from The Mountain: “Damascus (feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey)” HERE, “The God of Lying (feat. IDLES)” HERE, “The Manifesto (feat. Trueno and Proof)” HERE and “The Happy Dictator (feat. Sparks)” HERE
The Mountain is produced by Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton and Remi Kabaka Jr., plus Bizarrap (Orange County), The Mountain was recorded at Studio 13 in London and Devon, various locations in India including Mumbai, New Delhi, Rajasthan and Varanasi, as well as Ashgabat, Damascus, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. The album features artists performing in five languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish and Yoruba.
The artwork for The Mountain sees visual artist Jamie Hewlett’s distinctive, yet ever-evolving, style illustrate the world of Gorillaz with detailed and beautiful intricacy across a series of hand-drawn images which capture Murdoc, Noodle, Russel and 2D’s time in India working on the new album, available both as a book and as a collection of 12×12 prints.
The Mountain – Album Tracklisting:
The Mountain (feat. Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
The Moon Cave (feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda and Black Thought)
The Happy Dictator (feat. Sparks)
The Hardest Thing (feat. Tony Allen)
Orange County (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar)
The God of Lying (feat. IDLES)
The Empty Dream Machine (feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
The Manifesto (feat. Trueno and Proof)
The Plastic Guru (feat. Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
Delirium (feat. Mark E. Smith)
Damascus (feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey)
The Shadowy Light (feat. Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
Casablanca (feat. Paul Simonon and Johnny Marr)
The Sweet Prince (feat. Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
The Sad God (feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna and Anoushka Shankar)
The Mountain will be available in the following formats: Digital Download; Standard CD; Deluxe 2CD; Standard Vinyl; Hardback Book Vinyl Edition; LP Picture Disc Vinyl; Individual Character Cassettes; Limited Edition Collectors Box (incl. Art Prints). Pre-order HERE.
Pre order / pre save The Mountain HERE.
About KONG:
KONG is Gorillaz’ own label. The band’s ninth studio album The Mountain is KONG’s first release, with global digital and physical distribution via The Orchard.
