Gorillaz have launched a brand new music project called Song Machine, having kicked things off today with 'Momentary Bliss', a track featuring grime rapper Slowthai and punk duo Slaves.
Its world premiere came at 7.30pm this evening, dropping on YouTube and Radio 1's Future Sounds with Annie Mac, who spoke to Damon Albarn and Remi Kabaka Jr. about the new project.
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"This is the beginning of... a really exciting period of our lives," they told the radio host, explaining they no longer saw themselves 'being constrained to making albums' and have now ventured into 'episodes' that can be released sporadically throughout the year.
'Momentary Bliss' is the first instalment of Song Machine, a mysterious concept the band has been gradually announcing over the past few days.
On 28 January the animated group put out images teasing something called Song Machine, which was followed by a short 23-second promotional track and accompanying video called 'Song Machine Theme Tune'.
Then came the press release, which explained that Gorillaz were moving away from the traditional format of an album to team up with an 'ever-revolving' roster of collaborators.
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The series of new singles would be released in the form of regular 'episodes' - each featuring guest musicians coming together in the band's Kong Studios - over the course of 2020.
The series won't have a set schedule; instead, Gorillaz promise the 'spontaneous delivery of episodes throughout the year'.
The release said: "In direct opposition to the usual traditional recording/single/album release cycle, the band again breaks convention in their own round the back door fashion with the spontaneous delivery of episodes throughout the year."
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In a statement, Gorillaz' fictional drummer - well, you know, they're quite literally a cartoon band - Russel Hobbs added: "Song Machine is a whole new way of doing what we do. Gorillaz breaking the mould 'cos the mould got old.
"World is moving faster than a supercharged particle, so we've gotta stay ready to drop. We don't even know who's stepping through the studio next.
"Song Machine feeds on the unknown, runs on pure chaos. So whatever the hell's coming, we're primed and ready to produce like there's no tomorrow. Y'know, just in case."
The new project will be Gorillaz' first body of work since 2018's The Now Now, which was their sixth studio album.
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The year before that, the group had released Humanz, in turn marking an end to a seven-year hiatus following The Fall (2011), Plastic Beach (2010), Demon Days (2005) and their eponymous debut, Gorillaz (2001).
Featured Image Credit: GorillazTopics: Entertainment, Music
