After premiering the apocalyptic animated video for “Feel Good Inc.” in an Austin, Texas, bar yesterday (March 17), Gorillaz principal Damon Albarn seemed relieved to have wrapped work on the “cartoon” band’s latest project.
“It takes a long time,” Albarn told Billboard.com about the forthcoming “Demon Days” (Virgin) during an invitation-only afternoon event at the South By Southwest (SXSW) music festival. “We recorded most of it last year. And working on the video is intensive. It takes more than three months to get it done once you start.”
As previously reported, the new album features guest spots from veteran hip-hop act De La Soul, actor Dennis Hopper and R&B legend Ike Turner, among others. “People enjoy doing something different, and seem to like working with us,” Albarn said.
Working with Gorillaz has forced Albarn to put his other projects — which include enduring rock act Blur, and an evolving series of world music field recordings — on hold.
“We’re going to tour later on,” he said of Gorillaz, declining to reveal any details beyond confirming the outing will be “completely different” than the act’s last outing, which found the human band members performing behind a screen featuring their animated counterparts, Noodle, Murdoc, 2-D and Russell.
“Then I’m going abroad to make more recordings, then we’ll get back to working [on a new Blur album] after that,” he said.
