Damon Albarn is a bit of a musical chameleon. Pioneer of the britpop movement with Blur, defining a generation one brilliant album after another. Then what, an anime group named Gorillaz who changed the way we thought about music all together. But the questions on everyone's tongues are 'who is Damon?', 'what does Albarn actually sound like?'. On Everyday Robots, we may have an answer.
The title track sits right in the centre of 2014. And what does a 46 year old think of today, we are everyday robots on our phones. It is lonely, it is sparse and it's frightening. Not like Terminator frightening but sitting on a tube and everyone is head down in an Instagram feed frightening. The chameleon delivers every second of this song as it should, faultless everyday robots just touch thumbs. Not often does an artist provide social commentary as good as this.
The album feels rainy, and I think Damon stills feels a huge cloud over him. Lonely Press Play, looks at being alone in the digital age, and the electronic heartbeat throughout it pulls at your heart strings until it morphs into a bit of an enigma. Mr Tembo. Does it fit into this album? No. Does it sound really good? Yes. I'm not sure what to say, it is upbeat as The Universal but feels more Barlow than Albarn. Stick to the sad Damon.
Everyday Robots is excellent. The personal portrait of on of the UK's finest, as an album it's uplifting but at the expense of the musical chameleon. You & Me, is the definition of this beautiful sadness. Tin foil and a lighter- referencing Albarn's past addictions is fleeting but scarring. All over it is just the definition of a good record, fluid and emotional, past and present- all are here.
FAVOURITE SONG: HOSTILES
FAVOURITE LINE: EVRYDAY ROBOTS JUST TOUCH THUMBS
RATING: 9/10
BEST PLACE TO LISTEN: RAINY SUNDAY IN TRAFFIC
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