Gorillaz have released their new track ‘Orange County’, alongside its companion track ‘The Hardest Thing’, in advance of the release of their upcoming album, ‘The Mountain’, out on 27th February.
‘Orange County’ focuses on themes of grief throughout the record, seen in the heartfelt and emotional lyrics capturing the ongoing challenges of experiencing the loss of a loved one. The repetition of the lyrics in the chorus, “You know the hardest thing is to say goodbye / To someone you love / That's the hardest thing”, reinforces the continuation of this overpowering emotion and the significance of loss as a central theme, as explored by Damon Albarn in this record.
Pairing these heartfelt lyrics with the whistling running throughout the track, ‘Orange County’ sees Gorillaz approach a record detailing difficult experiences with a brighter sound, creating a balanced track that is reflective yet optimistic. Vocals from the artist Kara Jackson, further enhance the emotions of the track. The song also sees the impact of producer Bizarrap and sitar player Anoushka Shankar.
The companion song, ‘The Hardest Thing’, featuring vocals of the late Tony Allen, utilises the same lyrics from the chorus of ‘Orange County’ with the melancholic and sombre sound, creating a vastly different outcome. When listened to together, the genius of pairing these lyrically similar and sonically opposing songs to capture the feelings of grief is evident.
Pairing these heartfelt lyrics with the whistling running throughout the track, ‘Orange County’ sees Gorillaz approach a record detailing difficult experiences with a brighter sound, creating a balanced track that is reflective yet optimistic. Vocals from the artist Kara Jackson, further enhance the emotions of the track. The song also sees the impact of producer Bizarrap and sitar player Anoushka Shankar.
The companion song, ‘The Hardest Thing’, featuring vocals of the late Tony Allen, utilises the same lyrics from the chorus of ‘Orange County’ with the melancholic and sombre sound, creating a vastly different outcome. When listened to together, the genius of pairing these lyrically similar and sonically opposing songs to capture the feelings of grief is evident.
Maria Bensusan
Image: 'The Mountain' Official Album Cover
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