Brilliant Damon interview from the Guardian

Wow, you can listen to 40 minutes of an amazing Damon Albarn interview with Paul Morley.
He talks nineties/noughties nostalgia, stuff about the new opera with Alan Moore, Blur being over, the end of British imperialism...and the upcoming period of "winter" for Britain (eek), his own insignificance, Gorillaz, and pretty much everything else he's ever done.

Listen and read here

On the new Gorillaz album Plastic Beach

"... I'm making this one the most pop record I've ever made in many ways, but with all my experience to try and at least present something that has got depth. I think pop music is a great place to get new ideas across ... The only danger is knowing when you are doing good work, how many people might be affected by it ... and you try not to become too knowing, which is really hard to avoid. When I did the first Gorillaz records I allowed my original guide vocals to stay, to say, "Hey, it don't mean much, they don't say much," but this time I thought, "Fuck it, I might not say things totally successfully, but I've got to get clear again."

The promise of a perfectly crafted Damon Albarn pop song is making me more excited than I have been in ages. It seems like Plastic Beach is going to be more precise than the previous two "organic" sounding Gorillaz albums. Not that they aren't epic, but revisiting Blur this summer has made me nostalgic for the crisp perfection of songs like The Universal.

Damon also gives a rundown of the collaborations on Plastic Beach. Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Barry Gibb, and Lou Reed are all mentioned!



[Guardian]

Damon Albarn could be responsible for London's 2012 Olympic opening ceremony!

O.K, I'm a huge slacker in the Damon blog posting department. Yep, the last two posts have been ganked from Brenna on Facebook. This news was too exciting not to mention though. So, the committee responsible for doling out the "creative director" posts for the 2012 Olympics is seriously considering Damon for the job (or one of the jobs). Obviously, that would mean they'd hire Jamie Hewlett to do all the artsy stuff, eh? Well, nothing's set in stone, and Stephen Daldry is also rumored to be in the running, but just imagine how cool it would be. I think it would be quite forward-thinking, and might be a good direction for London's games. I mean, they're not going to out-flash Beijing...so why not out-cool them instead? Damon might even be a contender for a cycling medal, no? I posted it about a million times, but Damon and Jamie did a bang up job on this intro for the BBC's coverage of last year's Olympics:


In other Olympics news, we'll find out in nine days if Chicago is getting the 2016 Summer Olympics. Lots of people here in the windy city are dead set against it, but I'm a total Olympics dork (and optimistic to a fault) so I'm really pulling for us to be the pick.

Punchdrunk's "It Felt Like A Kiss" sounds terrifying

The Manchester International Festival should be pretty familiar to Victorian Horror readers (and/or Damon Albarn fans). It is, of course the birthplace of his, and Jamie Hewlett's, Monkey: Journey To The West. This year, Damon's contribution is even more oblique than a Chinese opera. His score accompanies Punchdrunk and Adam Curtis' It Felt Like A Kiss.

Punchdrunk is a performance art theatre troupe (if I'm understanding it correctly). They've created a sort of haunted house in an abandoned Manchester building. It's not your normal haunted house though, instead of ghosts and monsters, you're haunted by the spectre of America's rise as a superpower...and the dark secrets hidden behind the happy pop culture.

I've read several reviews, and, well, it sounds terrifying. At one point I briefly flirted with the idea of flying to Manchester to see the Blur show, then staying on until July to catch this. After reading the reviews, I'm sort of glad I didn't get myself into that position! Not that I don't think it'll be amazing, it would be cool to hear Damon's score performed by the Kronos Quartet, but I'm not a fan of enclosed spaces...or being chased by a maniac with a chainsaw!

The Times' Review: It Felt Like a Kiss at the Quay House, Spinningfields, Manchester

The Guardian: Theatre reviews: It Felt Like a Kiss, Forbidden Broadway, Apologia

It Felt Like a Kiss

The Untied States of America
It Felt Like a Kiss scared me to death

Gorillaz Monkey Journey To The West Olympics promo wins a BAFTA

The BBC's Olympics title sequence won a BAFTA award yesterday. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett produced the promo, which was fashioned from their Chinese opera Monkey: Journey To The West.
Yes! Another excuse to post this...
I watched the BBC's coverage of the Olympics this summer just to see this promo before every broadcast.

Fake Coachella lineups abound, as I become increasingly nervous that Blur aren't going to be there.

So something went down on Ryan Seacrest's website today. He posted a "lineup" then it got taken down, but not before a million blogs posted it as real. Obviously this fake lineup must have some basis in truth right? Which is why I'm starting to think no Blur, unless they're the act Goldenvoice is waiting for so they can announce...which doesn't seem likely.
There's word that Bowie is still being wooed to headline as Ziggy Stardust, but according to his own website it isn't happening.
Anyway, here's Defamer's post of the "fake" lineup, which seems to be pretty in step with a lot of the confirmed acts. If it is real-ish, then meh. No Damon Albarn contingent? The trip's off!
(Hopefully I'll be proven wrong and Gorillaz will headline Friday, Blur Saturday and Monkey Journey to the West Sunday.)

2008: Year of the Monkey

O.K, so actually it was the year of the rat, but 2008 saw the release of Monkey "Journey To The West", the album spawned from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's opera of the same name. It was also the year that I traveled down to Charleston SC to see the opera at the Spoleto festival.
As an aside to my best show of '08 tournament, I thought I'd revisit the spectacle of the show. I took it out of consideration for the best show, since it's in its own category.
Currently in an extended run at the O2 Arena in a specially designed tent, the opera is enjoying rave reviews.
Thanks to flickr, I've assembled some images of its time there:

Bloophoenix's photo of the outside of the tent and Canary Wharf.

Paulmonkeypaul's picture of the show.

Mr Ush's picture of the show

One of the funniest bits of the show is at the very beginning. There's this giant panda perched at the back of the stage, not even facing the crowd, just munching on bamboo. It has literally no reason to be there, no purpose to the story at all. It's a fabulous detail because it's exactly like a real panda; sort of gormless, a bit "slow". It reminded me of those images of the pandas that survived the earthquake in China. They were so helpless and you just wanted to give them a cuddle (bad idea by the way). You can see the panda (in a bit more of a starring role) as Damon et al. perform Monkey's Travels on Later With Jools Holland.

Damon and Jamie interview on CBC's Q

Damon and Jamie sat down with the CBC's Jian Ghomeshi for an interview about Gorillaz and Monkey: Journey To The West. I'm not sure how long ago this was, but it was uploaded to youtube about a week ago. There's nothing new here, just another testament to Damon's love of music, and excitement over it.
At being called a "lead singer" Damon bristles ever so slightly, almost veering into a tantrum before checking himself. I can see his point, being known as a lead singer when you're a musical visionary must be a tad exacerbating. It's almost endearing that he thinks he has to qualify his genius by clarifying that he's a pianist. It's O.K Damon... no-one's going to confuse you with just another front man.
Jamie's in his usual laid back mood, while Damon gets all twinkly eyed and passionate.

Monkey Bee (Kwes. remix)

Both the Kwes. Mix and the Diplo mix will be digitally released by XL in January.
I think this one's more interesting and ethereal, but Diplo's is pretty rad. I mean, every good song has to have a dub version right? I especially like the hip hop breaks at the end of Diplo's, it's quite fitting for Monkey! See my previous post to hear the Diplo remix.

Monkey Bee (Diplo Remix)

The Vinyl Factory releases an even more limited- limited edition Monkey box set.

Hey! Got a spare £255.00 ($393.00)?
The Vinyl Factory has released another Monkey: Journey To The West vinyl box set. This one includes:

• Black cloth-bound box foiled on cover and spine.

• Four exclusive Jamie Hewlett giclee art prints on Somerset archival paper, each stamped and numbered, one signed and dated. Housed in a red, gold-foiled folio.

• Black cloth-bound hardback 84-page art book containing exclusive Jamie Hewlett artwork, sketches and illustrations.

• Book also houses two super-heavyweight 200-gram vinyl LPs, containing six bonus tracks not available on the commercial release. Pressed on the classic EMI 1400, with one-side especially etched.

• When you purchase the Box Set you also receive a digital version of the album.

• The first 500 customers to pre-order/order the Box Set will also receive a custom-made special limited edition Monkey Om Box, with tones composed by Damon Albarn and artwork designed by Jamie Hewlett.

• This beautifully produced collectible edition is limited to just 2,000 copies worldwide.

Pretty snazzy eh? The tracklisting for the double vinyl and Om box is as follows:


Double Vinyl Album tracklisting:

1. 5 Point Star 6:02
2. Monkeys World 2.32
3. Monkey Travels 0.33
4. Into The Eastern Sea 0.34
5. Living Sea Introduction 0.49
6. The Living Sea 1.52
7. The Dragon King 1.54
8. Iron Rod 1.04
9. The Dragon Queen 1.34
10. Out of the Eastern Sea 0.56
11. Heavenly Peach Banquet 3.31
12. Battle In Heaven 3.25
13. O Mi To Fu 0.57
14. Buddha's Palm 1.17
15. Whisper 2.16
16. Tripitaka's Curse 1.21
17. Confessions of a Pig 3.19
18. Sandy the River Demon 2.16
19. March of the Volunteers 1.48
20. The White Skeleton Demon 1.33
21. Monks Funeral 1.39
22. Monks Song 1.43
23. I Love Buddha 2.07
24. March of the Iron Army 2.41
25. Volcano 1.09
26. Pigsy in Space 2.16
27. Monkey Bee 5.01
28. Disappearing Volcano 6.09

Monkey Om Box tracklisting:

1. Battle In Heaven
2. Drums at the Station
3. The Heavenly Peach
4. Into the Sea
5. The Living Sea Introduction
6. March of the Iron Army
7. Desire
8. Monkey Bee 1
9. Monkey Bee 2
10. Pigsy In Space
11. Time Travel
12. Siren
13. O Mi To Fu

The original box set is still available from the Vinyl Factory for £65.00 ($100.00)

The Vinyl Factory

Monkey Translations

Just saw these on youtube... MirSomething has posted video translations of Heavenly Peach Banquet and Monkey Bee. Now you can read along while you listen. These are the same as you can find in the album insert...but now with added convenience!
HEAVENLY PEACH BANQUET

MONKEY BEE

Monkey live on BBC Radio 2

From Music Week:

"Meanwhile, the BBC station is hosting an exclusive live performance of Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s Monkey: Journey To The West. The performance, which will feature Chinese and European musicians from the original theatre production, will be held this coming Tuesday at the Radio Theatre and will be broadcast on Saturday, November 29 from 7 to 8pm."

You can listen to BBC Radio 2 shows live HERE. So make sure and tune in (it's 5 hours ahead EST, and 6 hours CST, so around 1pm Chicago time.)

Damon and Jamie take over youtube!

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have taken over youtube's homepage today. Go to the Monkey: Journey to the West channel to see all the videos on offer. The intro has Damon and Jamie exalting the wonders of youtube, and watching various Chinese themed videos. Check out their favorites for those vid's.

Monkey Bee music video

The short film for "Monkey Bee" was premiered on youtube today. Shot on 35mm film, the video has a cinematic quality which draws heavily from the 70's cult T.V. show "Monkey".
Taken from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's Chinese opera "Monkey: Journey To The West", and re-fashioned for the album, the song depicts the fight between Princess Iron Fan and Monkey. Monkey wants her fan to cool down a volcano, she thinks he's trouble and won't let him have it! There's some additions in here; Jamie of course had to add some zombies, in the form of Princess Iron Fan's army.
It looks amazing. Jamie really delved into that kitschy 70's B-movie look, complete with lip syncing that doesn't even try to match!