Episode seven of Gorillaz’s Song Machine is an especially dreamlike slice of heaven, thanks in no small part to the involvement of Elton John. The electro soundscape that Gorillaz have come to practically master over the course of their two-decade existence is paired up not only with John’s softer, more piano-driven contribution, but with intermittent verses from 6LACK. John’s more calming style never quite sits right next to 6LACK’s lyrics, a jarring sensation perhaps proving inevitable, but such is the compositional majesty of Damon Albarn’s band that it proves little more than a fleeting distraction.
There is a wonderful, escapist quality to ‘The Pink Phantom’ that truly moves past some of the more realist undertones Gorillaz brought to the fore with Humanz in 2017. At times it is almost ghostly, but also mellow – the kind of track that you love to just sink into as the synth and piano chords whisk you away.
Words by James Hanton
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.