A British one-two punch in the form of a Gorillaz and Sir Elton John collaboration has been realized upon the release of animated sensation’s newest EP Song Machine Episode 7.
This new EP features four tracks, which are mostly spoken tracks of the band’s personas, Stuart “2-D” Pot, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs, preparing for the only true song on the EP, The Pink Phantom.
The track is accompanied by an expectedly weird animated music video that features psychedelic imagery and Scooby-Doo references that invoke a sense of nostalgia and confusion at the same time. A somber 2-D sits at piano floating in a black void before rapper 6LACK comes in for an early bridge and is followed suit by a cartoon Elton who squares up with the accompanying piano the void.
Damon Albarn is the main composer for the Gorillaz, which presents itself as a four-person animated rock band. Albarn, who as a solo musician often reaches out for collaborates, landed himself quite a big fish when legendary pianist Elton John decided to work on his latest track.
I’ve always loved Damon because he encompasses so many different sorts of music. He has his fingers in so many pies and although he’s achieved so much, he never sits still creatively. He’s constantly pushing forward and embracing the new, which is admirable and rare,” said John. “I’ve always been a Gorillaz fan anyway, so when he asked me to do a Gorillaz track—it was a no brainer. I’m so very, very happy that that’s come about.”
Though this song about summer love and love lost is appropriately melancholy we couldn’t be happier about the mashup.
