Gorillaz

The stars are out in full

Albarn sets sail and we are taken on an odyssey of discovery, introduced (on screen, I hasten to add) by the one and only Snoop Dogg. “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach.” Welcome, indeed.

The show kicks off with high energy hip hop beats and the orchestra whips the crowd up into an immediate frenzy. Snoop is “on deck” and the band are dressed as sailors or in stripes. Mick Jones and Paul Simonon play for the entirety of the night both wearing white, peaked sailors hats. But of course, a plethora of other names soon jump on board for the ride.

Legend Bobby Womack appears twice for tracks ‘Stylo’ and ‘Cloud of Unknowing’. His insanely soulful jazz voice really is immense and highly emotive. Neneh Cherry joins in for ‘Kids With Guns’, Miss Dragon, Swedish pop starlet makes an apperance and Bashy and Kano burst on for ‘White Flag’, riling the crowd and accompanied by symphonies from the National Syrian orchestra. Everyone’s here tonight.

‘Rhinestone Eyes’ is a favourite, the loud, spiriling, swirling orchestra playing it out to dramatic effect. Jamie Hewlett’s animation is incredible, raw, beautiful, and so clever that you really do feel taken in by the conjuring of this other world. There is still delight however in witnessing Albarn’s joy, bounding about stage orchestrating his show, his dream, his masterful spectacle, among a whimsical bunch of star studded sailor vagabonds.

The man of many talents is often spotlit, playing his melodica or at the piano he is extremely animated on stage and captivating to watch. Albarn leaps about upon the speaker boxes engaging the sea of fans; waves ensued, and he tops it all off with ‘Demon Days’, an orchestral anthem.

Words by Camilla Felici
Photo by Sophie Jarry

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