Iconic virtual music group Gorillaz have released the third single from their upcoming album ‘The Mountain’, and, at long last, it’s a collaboration with post-punk titans IDLES.
The previous two singles from the Damon Albarn-masterminded cartoon group were collaborations with eccentric pop duo Sparks, Argentine rapper Trueno, and a posthumous contribution from Proof of D12, with both tracks meshing the groups typical genre experimentations with heavy influence from South Asian music. Their latest single, ‘The God Of Lying’, follows that same formula but takes things in a different, more psychedelic direction.
The brisk, 3-minute track prominently features a mixture of stabbing piano chords and swirly synths, backed up by an unusually chilled out vocal performance from IDLES frontman Joe Talbot. In many ways, it’s the most “classic” sounding Gorillaz track in years, musically reminiscent of old B-sides like ‘Hongkongaton’ and ‘Dracula’, but armed with the sleek, modern pop production that has stuck with Gorillaz since their 2017 comeback.
The relaxed, trippy production matches well with the lyrics, which bounce in a near stream of consciousness and between themes of religion, drugs, the cost-of-living crisis, brainwashing and death. “Running to the exit with a huge grin on my face / Screaming hope is behind / And I wanna get high”, Albarn sings on the hook, joined by Talbot on the outro. It’s a dark message, as Albarn acknowledges the inevitability of death. It’s been a common theme throughout the group's work, and after nearly 25 years since their debut album, it seems Albarn still hasn’t quite come to terms with it.
'The God Of Lying” is a good, classic slice of Gorillaz pessimism. Albarn & Co. are still using their music to hold a mirror up to us, not to depress but to upset, and to make listeners angry at the state of things. It may be laid back musically, but Gorillaz continue to pump out politically and socially charged tunes that also happen to be insanely catchy. It is a blessing to still have them around.