Supergroup, musical collaboration of the century, call it what you will, Damon Albarn’s latest project is inspiring, sweetly melancholic and not to be passed by
Like a Peter Pan, Damon Albarn seems able to flit from project to project and come up smelling of roses. Dare we say he has the golden touch? His latest collaboration, kept under wraps until October last year, is with three very talented musicians: Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong and highly-lauded African jazz drummer Tony Allen. Having sat down for a cup of tea, the group decided not to give themselves a name, but to mix up a whole load musical styles and produce a 12-track long album.
On first listen you immediately hear Blur-ish hark backs to the Britpop days, in tracks like 80s Life and Northern Whale, and unavoidably in Albarn’s distinctive, slightly plaintive vocals. But this is fine once you realise Britpop is just one of many influences on the album and you decide to sit back and let quite different influences wash over you – Herculean is particularly hypnotic. Great guitar mixes with electronic sounding beats and the occasional hint at a 60s melodic ballad. London features heavily and there is the odd reference to the Iraq war.
The Good, The Bad and The Queen first performed at the Electric Proms at the Roundhouse in October, having just released first single Herculean. They now have a gruelling looking tour schedule ahead of them but their outfits (slightly shabby suits and the odd top hat) and presentation emits a quirky vaudeville flavour which suggests they are more than happy to entertain you. Enjoy the album, and enjoy the show.
Visit www.myspace.com/thegoodthebadandthequeen for tour dates. Buy The Good, The Bad and The Queen
