The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: GWAR HAVE GONE BERSERK! CHECK OUT THE NEW SONG “BERSERKER MODE” OUT NOW
SPILL NEW MUSIC: QUEEN KWONG RELEASES HER TAKE ON A ‘POP’ SONG “WITHOUT YOU, WHATEVER”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: ART D’ECCO – “MIDLIFE CRISIS”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: YUNGBLUD ANNOUNCES SELF-TITLED THIRD STUDIO ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2 VIA LOCOMOTION/GEFFEN RECORDS
SPILL NEWS: CANADIAN PUNK LEGENDS DAYGLO ABORTIONS HIT THE ROAD WITH CITIZEN RAGE FOR A CROSS CANADA TOUR
SPILL FEATURE: DON’T YOU FEEL CLOSER? – A CONVERSATION WITH CY CURNIN OF THE FIXX
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: BROKE ROYALS – “REVIVALISM”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: COMBICHRIST SHARES NEW SINGLE & LYRIC VIDEO FOR “MODERN DEMON” VIA OUT OF LINE MUSIC
SPILL NEWS: KATIE TUPPER RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE “HONEY” + EMBARKS ON CANADIAN TOUR
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – DANCE FEVER
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MASTER BOOT RECORD – PERSONAL COMPUTER
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FADER – QUARTZ
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DIATOM DELI – TIME~LAPSE NATURE
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: PANJOMA – “BLEEDING SUN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BEAUTY IN CHAOS – “AFTERLIFE” FT. TISH CIRAVOLO
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
411
Editor Pick
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SYLVAN ESSO - WHAT NOW
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARK LANEGAN BAND - GARGOYLE

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GORILLAZ – HUMANZ

Gorillaz

Gorillaz
Humanz
Parlophone

It’s safe to say Gorillaz is one of the quirkiest and most enigmatic acts out there today. The virtual hip-hop band, after seven years, makes their comeback with Humanz, with help from an all-star lineup of collaborators.

In a word, Humanz is astronomical. From the aesthetic of the album promotion and design to the spacey synths, there’s a certain tone that carries through the album that transports the listener to a cosmic space. Humanz is in-your-face, it’s ethereal, it’s playful and it perfectly encapsulates the character that is represented by the band’s rather bizarre nature. This is effortlessly conveyed in the glitch-hoppy sonic landscape that encapsulates most if not all songs on the album. Shimmering synths, buzzy and twinkling leads, and plenty of pitch modulation are a common theme throughout Humanz, all of which do an excellent job at contributing to the soundscape that is uniquely Gorillaz. Tracks like “Ascension” and “Momentz” are punchy, fast-paced, and intense; especially with Vince Staples delivering an excellent flow on the former track. Humanz is a ride, and Gorillaz isn’t afraid to take you along the distance with them.

On the other hand, when the intensity and quirkiness is reined back a little bit and the vibe becomes a little more reserved, what is revealed is a sense of true musicality, groove, and swagger. Where “Momentz” is a song that throws the listener in several different directions, songs like “Strobelite”, “Andromeda”, and “She’s My Collar” allow for the listener to sit back and just enjoy the casual danceability that is brought to the table. Which is a good thing, because sometimes the intensity of the other tracks on Humanz can get overwhelming or tiring to listen to after it’s been repeated for a good number of tracks. Other tracks, such as “We Got The Power”, establish a happy medium between the two.

However, it is in the more laid-back and groovy tracks where Humanz shines its brightest. It’s the same kind of energy and exuberance that’s shown in droves in the rest of the album, but in a different and more confident way. “Strobelite” is the track that exemplifies this the most. The shuffling beat mixed with the astral-sounding high-pitched synths, when combined with the synth leads and the masterful vocal delivery of Peven Everett – whose soulful voice cuts like a knife right through all of the glitchiness – is an excellent combination. Other tracks, such as “Andromeda”, featuring “Broccoli” star D.R.A.M., and “The Apprentice”, the bonus track featuring vocals from Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, also accomplish this feat very well, albeit to a slightly lesser extent.

All in all, Humanz is a record that proves that Gorillaz are as strong as ever even after their absence from the music world. It’s an assertive and groovy collection of songs that takes you on a journey through the world that Gorillaz have created with their artistry. Humanz is a little weird, but that’s exactly what it aims to be – and it accomplishes this goal successfully, with enough assertiveness to pull you in every time you might think it doesn’t have you.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016 youtube_flat_2016

Editor Pick
Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GORILLAZ – HUMANZ

Author

Kysan Kwan

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
91.1
8.0
Total Spill Rating
91.1
Total Fan Rating
2 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsandromedaascensionblurdamon albarngorillazhumansmomentzparlophonestrobelite
album reviews, andromeda, ascension, blur, damon albarn, gorillaz, humans, momentz, parlophone, strobelite
About the Author
Kysan Kwan
Kysan Kwan hails from Ajax, but is currently in the Music Business program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. His love for music started in high school, where he went through his "rebellious teen alt-rock" phase before becoming open to all genres of music from EDM to smooth jazz. Kysan also is an enthusiastic concert photographer and has his own college radio show, where he seeks to introduce the American public to the best of Canadian indie.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsandromedaascension
 
9.0
On-U Sound
—

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Various Artists Pay It All Back Vol. 8 On-U Sound Master producer/songwriter/artist Adrian Sherwood has been behind all things On-U Sound since 1979, and since then he and [...]
 
10
Florence + The Machine
4.9

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – DANCE FEVER

by Robert Defina on May 13, 2022
Florence + the Machine  Dance Fever Polydor Records Florence + The Machine has always found the midway point between her classically-trained vocals and accessible dance pop. Her [...]
 
9.0
Master Boot Record
—

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MASTER BOOT RECORD – PERSONAL COMPUTER

by Samantha Stevens on May 13, 2022
Master Boot Record Personal Computer Metal Blade Records Once in a generation a musical genre takes a leap and for metal…that leap is Master Boot Record. The brainchild of [...]
 
9.0
Fader

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FADER – QUARTZ

by Aaron Badgley on May 13, 2022
Fader Quartz Blanc Check Records Fader is a duo, consisting of Neil Arthur (Blancmange/Near Future) and Benge (Wrangler, Creep Show and John Foxx And The Maths). Quartz is their third album, [...]
 
9.0
Diatom Deli

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DIATOM DELI – TIME~LAPSE NATURE

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Diatom Deli Time~Lapse Nature RVNG International Artist PR’s can really go to extremes, from bare facts to wordy gibberish that praises the artists to heaven with no substantial [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8
9.0
—
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – DANCE FEVER
10
4.9
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MASTER BOOT RECORD – PERSONAL COMPUTER
9.0
—
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FADER – QUARTZ
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DIATOM DELI – TIME~LAPSE NATURE
9.0

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – FASCINATION
716
 
SPILL FEATURE: CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2022 – THIS YEAR’S PROG CRUISE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE.
589
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PRIMUS – CONSPIRANOID
423
 
SPILL FEATURE: DANCE TO THE PERFECT MESS – A CONVERSATION WITH CARL MARSH OF SHRIEKBACK
406
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MEN WITHOUT HATS – AGAIN (PART 2)
322
 
SPILL NEWS: BARENAKED LADIES TO RELEASE LIVE TRACKS FROM SOLD-OUT ROYAL ALBERT HALL SHOW | DELUXE EDITION OF ‘DETOUR DE FORCE’ OUT JUNE 3
320
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – UNLIMITED LOVE
312
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL w/ LOLA COLETTE @ HISTORY, TORONTO
282
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TANGERINE DREAM – RAUM
268
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LOST CAT – “L.O.S.T.”
266
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VR SEX – ROUGH DIMENSION
255
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAN AMERICAN – THE PATIENCE FADER
253
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: VENUS BEMUS RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “STORMS”
251
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES