Community has been such a massive part of Gorillaz. Not just that relationship between band and artist, but the musicians who are drafted in. That endless list of featured artists is not a guarantee of quality, but it strengthens each album. Be it a spoken-word part from Dennis Hopper or a bass riff from Tina Weymouth, Damon Albarn has an ear for who would suit a song best. Some of the collaborations in recent years feel more like a who’s who of popular artists, but The Mountain has a wonderful, refreshed feeling to it. Legends like Sparks and Johnny Marr are mixed in with a litany of musicians whose work Albarn is well-versed in. He’s a tastemaker when not working with Blur, piecing together genres and creatives of a high calibre together. The Happy Dictator, a Sparks-featuring lead single for The Mountain, highlights this best of all. The Mountain may go on to be best defined by this track. It features everything Gorillaz stands for, and it’s pulled off well.
The Happy Dictator is a euphoric piece pairing Albarn’s strong second wind with songwriting and Sparks’ beloved longevity. The Mael Brothers bring about a strong tone for Albarn to build from, that’s the most important part of these featured artist pieces. Muffled, spoken-word twists from the Blur frontman pair with the cleaner highs of Sparks. They play a deity as Albarn explores “the palace of your mind,” and a spiritual fervour takes over The Happy Dictator. Crucial to this latest effort from the ever-changing supergroup is getting the line between catchy and creative right. Within that contemplative tone and the search for meaning in the minds of others is a synth-adjacent instrumental. It’s a perfect balance of core values Gorillaz has held since their self-titled debut and the ongoing thrills of Sparks’ new music. Those catchy turns are matched by MAD!, the duo’s latest release.
Albarn writes up commentaries on the world around him. What he sees is what he features on The Happy Dictator. An escapism reigns here, a desire to break from the horrors of the world around us. He is right to comment on that given the activism he has provided over the last year, the deeper connection he has with global music. That is as much a part of The Happy Dictator as the delightful backing vocals Sparks give this uplifting and inspired track. But part of the charm, too, comes from the simplicity of the back-and-forth heard in the message. A heart broken by rage can be healed by the unity of sincerity, of an embrace from others. The Happy Dictator gets to grips with that wonderfully, and part of is the tinge of irony Sparks offers with the “what a happy world we live in,” line.
All of it comes together to offer one of the best Gorillaz songs since Plastic Beach. It’s an obvious reference point, but it’s also the last time the Albarn-fronted troupe had anything of interest to say. This isn’t similar in style, but it certainly calls back to the socially conscious and concerned style of writing which puts Albarn in a dangerous but rewarding spot. The Happy Dictator is a tremendous surprise. For those who felt burnt by Cracker Island and Song Machine: Vol. 1, this will reinvigorate hopes of a better future for the band. A cry for hope and a warm feeling intact, The Mountain gets off to an excellent start. Gorillaz has climbed the titular peak to get a better read of the world around them and out comes one of their strongest songs to date.
