Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have channelled their grief into Gorillaz's ninth studio album, The Mountain, a sprawling and eclectic collection that explores themes of loss, reincarnation, and joy. Both artists lost their fathers in 2024, and processed their sorrow through trips to India, where Albarn scattered his father's ashes in the Ganges. The album reflects India's more open attitude towards death, blending diverse musical styles and languages into a cohesive whole.
The album features an array of contributors, including 92-year-old Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle, Argentine rapper Trueno, and the late Mark E Smith of The Fall. Smith's manic vocals appear on the track "Delirium", one of several posthumous appearances that remind listeners of music's power to keep spirits alive. Other departed guests include Dennis Hopper, Tony Allen, and Proof, whose voices are woven into new compositions.
Over 15 tracks, The Mountain traverses genres and cultures with virtuosic ease, thanks to contributions from Anoushka Shankar, Johnny Marr, and Ajay Prasanna. Highlights include "The Happy Dictator" with Sparks, "The God of Lying" with IDLES, and "Damascus" with Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey. The album is best approached as a musical mandala, inviting listeners to drift through its recurring ideas and bittersweet melodies.
Albarn's gift for contrasting mundane experiences with abstract concepts shines on tracks like "Casablanca", which juxtaposes "tunnels to suburbia" with "the abyss". The album ultimately offers a path to the summit through its rich, joyful sprawl.
