The rollout of a new Gorillaz album is like few other artists’—each new single serves as a patch in the broader quilt, sure, but it’s also an entire universe unto itself, usually with its own set of familiar inhabitants bringing their own baggage to the proceedings. Next year, the group will release their ninth studio album, The Mountain, which features a dizzying guest list of not only living legends, but also those who’ve passed away during Gorillaz’s 25-year run.
The fourth and latest cut from the album, however, features two figures who are very much still with us, although until now on very different ends of the musical community: Yasiin Bey (f.k.a. Mos Def) and Iraqi dabke phenom Omar Souleyman come together on “Damascus,” a track recorded between London, Devon, Mumbai, New York, and—you guessed it—Damascus. Both artists are very much represented, trading verses over a rousing instrumental.
A day before The Mountain’s February 27 release, Gorillaz’s House of Kong exhibit will open at Downtown LA’s Rolling Greens, running through March 19. Tickets are available here. In the meantime, check out the new song below, and learn more about The Mountain via our recent cover story with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett here—and make sure to pick up a print copy here.
