Song Machine (Season One)

The first season of the Gorillaz musical project, Song Machine, began on 30 January 2020, and will conclude in October 2020. Song Machine Season One will contain 10 "episodes" that will be released spontaneously throughout the year until October, after which the album will be compiled and marketed as a compilation titled Almanac, based on Gorillaz's eponymous book.[1] The season marked the first release with Remi Kabaka Jr. as an official band member,[2] as well as the return of the character Murdoc Niccals in promotional material, after his absence from The Now Now in 2018.

Almanac
Cover of the Almanac, which the album is sold with
Compilation album by
Gorillaz
ReleasedOctober 2020
Recorded2019-2020
StudioStudio 13
Label
Producer
Gorillaz chronology
The Now Now
(2018)		 Almanac
(2020)
Singles from Almanac
  1. "Momentary Bliss"
    Released: 30 January 2020
  2. "Désolé"
    Released: 27 February 2020
  3. "Aries"
    Released: 9 April 2020
  4. "How Far?"
    Released: 2 May 2020
  5. "Friday 13th"
    Released: 9 June 2020

The series presents itself as a collection of singles and music videos, dubbed "episodes" each featuring previously unannounced guests[3] This season features appearances from Slowthai, Slaves, Fatoumata Diawara, Peter Hook, Georgia, Tony Allen, Skepta, and Octavian.

Episodes
Song Machine Theme Tune – 28 January
No.TitleLength
1."Song Machine Theme Tune"0:30
Total length:0:30
Song Machine, Ep. 1 – 30 January
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Machine Bitez #1" (with 2D, Murdoc & Russel) 0:44
2."Momentary Bliss" (featuring slowthai & Slaves)Damon Albarn, slowthai, Slaves3:16
3."Machine Bitez #2" (with 2D & Slaves) 0:56
4."Machine Bitez #3" (with 2D & slowthai) 1:02
Total length:6:23
Song Machine, Ep. 2 – 27 February
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Machine Bitez #4" (with 2D & Murdoc) 0:35
2."Désolé" (featuring Fatoumata Diawara)Damon Albarn, Fatoumata Diawara, James Ford, Remi Kabaka Jr.3:57
3."Machine Bitez #5" (with 2D & Fatoumata Diawara) 0:46
Total length:5:18
Song Machine, Ep. 3 – 9 April
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Machine Bitez #6" (with 2D, Murdoc & Russel) 0:56
2."Aries" (featuring Peter Hook & Georgia)Damon Albarn, Peter Hook, Richard Isong, Remi Kabaka Jr.4:13
3."Machine Bitez #7" (with 2D, Noodle, Murdoc & Russel) 0:37
Total length:5:46
How Far? – 2 May
No.TitleLength
1."How Far?" (featuring Tony Allen & Skepta)2:46
Total length:2:46
Song Machine, Ep. 4 - 9 June
No.TitleLength
1."Machine Bitez #8" (with 2D, Murdoc & Russel)0:48
2."Friday 13th" (featuring Octavian)3:36
Total length:4:24

Personnel

Gorillaz

  • Damon Albarn – vocals, instrumentation, songwriting, director
  • Jamie Hewlett – artwork, character design, video direction
  • Remi Kabaka Jr – drum programming, percussion, live drums

Additional musicians

  • slowthai – vocals (Episode 1)
  • Laurence Vincent – guitar, vocals (Episode 1)
  • Isaac Holman – percussion, vocals (Episode 1)
  • Mike Dean – drum programming, songwriting (Episode 1)
  • Alice Pratley – violin (Episode 2)
  • Augustin Ledieu – backing vocals (Episode 2)
  • Ciara Ismail – violin (Episode 2, "How Far?")
  • Davide Rossi – strings, string arranger (Episode 2)
  • Emmanuel Laniece – backing vocals (Episode 2)
  • Fatoumata Diawara – featured vocals, songwriting (Episode 2)
  • Isabelle Dunn – cello (Episode 2), violin ("How Far?")
  • James Ford – keyboards, percussion, balafon percussion (Episode 2); synthesizers, live drums (Episode 3)
  • Neima Naouri – backing vocals (Episode 2)
  • Nicola Hicks – viola (Episode 2)
  • Nora Fedrigo – electronics (Episode 2)
  • Sylvain Bellegarde – background vocals (Episode 2)
  • Sébastien Blanchon – horn (Episode 2)
  • Vanina de Franco – backing vocals (Episode 2)
  • Zither – live drums (Episode 2)
  • Georgia – featured guest, drum programming, percussion (Episode 3)
  • Peter Hook – featured guest, bass, vocals (Episode 3)
  • P2J – drum programming (Episode 3)
  • Tony Allen – vocals, drums, songwriting ("How Far?")
  • Skepta – vocals ("How Far?")
  • Konoto Sato – violin ("How Far?")
  • Stella Page – violin ("How Far?")
  • Octavian - vocals (Episode 4)

Technical

  • Stephen Sedgwick – mixing, engineering (Episode 1–3, "How Far?")
  • Samuel Egglenton – mixing, engineering (Episode 1–3, "How Far?")
  • John Davis – mastering, engineering (Episode 1–3, "How Far?")
  • Adrien Libmann – engineering (Episode 2)
  • Andrea Fognini – engineering (Episode 2)
  • Davide Lasala – engineering (Episode 2)
  • Sylvain Mercier – engineering (Episode 2)

References
  1. "Almanac CD". Gorillaz Official Website.
  2. Hewlett, Denholm (24 December 2019). Gorillaz: Reject False Icons (Director's Cut) (Motion picture). YouTube: Gorillaz. Event occurs at 23:32. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. Blistein, Jon (29 January 2020). "Gorillaz Detail New Music, Video Series 'Song Machine'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
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