The Good The Bad & The Queen - Herculean (Parlophone)
UK release date: 30 October 2006
Just where on Earth does Damon Albarn find the time? Not content with preparing for Blur's next album (still a going concern apparently), and plotting Gorillaz' continuing world domination, he's also managed to form a new band. And - whisper it - this one could be described as a bona fide supergroup.
For The Good The Bad & The Queen, Albarn has been joined by Paul Simonon (ex-bass player in The Clash), Simon Tong (former guitarist in The Verve) and Fela Kuti's drummer Tony Allen. He's even roped in Danger Mouse, one half of Gnarls Barkley of course, to produce. The results are, if this first single is anything to go by, downbeat, atmospheric and frankly outstanding.
Herculean meanders menacingly around like the more obtuse moments of Blur's 13 album while Danger Mouse adds his usual stunningly inventive production over the track. There's no hooks to speak of - in fact it could be the least commercial thing that Albarn's been involved in. Yet it's rather magnificent and more evidence that Albarn's one of the most talented people in music today. Be quick if you want to buy it though - it'll be released and deleted on the same day.
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