This, surprisingly, is the solo debut of BLUR & GORILLAZ front man DAMON ALBARN. ALBARN has been a bit of a musical changeling, moving from the Brit-Pop explosion of the early 90s to the Hip Hop infused music he made with his animated cohort. This time, he's brought an interesting, mature sense of growth to this beautiful music.

2007 collaboration between DAMON ALBARN (BLUR, GORILLAZ) & DANGERMOUSE (Grey Album, GNARLS BARKLEY, DANGER DOOM), legendary CLASH bassist Paul Simonon & the also legendary afro-beat drummer TONY ALLEN who played drums on most of FELA'S albums. This is more straight forward British pop than Albarn's other project GORILLAZ which should please BLUR fans. The album has a certain dreariness to it that works mainly because of Simonon's dubby basslines & some dark melodies. Allen proves that he is not only one of Africa's best drummers but one of the world's best drummers. Overall, a very interesting project that should please Britpop fans longing for something new.

While DAMON LOCKS and ROB MAZUREK have collabrated in the past with EXPLODING STAR ORCHESTRA, this marks the first pure duo record for the two. The 18 tracks on "New Future City Radio" function together as a mixtape imagining a future utopian pirate radio program that blends improvisational jazz, hip-hop, electric beats and psychedelia with ruminations on the future of community, all tied together with LOCKS' retrofuturist voiceover. Excellent and RECOMMENDED!

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