Gorillaz to debut new music on BBC Radio 2 This Thursday

This Thursday night from 7:30pm, Damon Albarn’s virtual band Gorillaz will join Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 to debut brand new music from their upcoming album, The Mountain. The appearance marks the first public preview of the band’s highly anticipated follow-up to Cracker Island, due March 20 via their own newly launched label, Kong.

Leading the 15-track album is the single “Happy Dictator,” a collaboration with art-pop legends Sparks—and fans can catch its first play during Thursday’s broadcast.

Produced by Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, and Remi Kabaka Jr., with additional production from Argentine hitmaker Bizarrap, The Mountain was recorded across the globe—from Albarn’s Studio 13 in London and his studio in Devon, to sessions in India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Rajasthan, and Varanasi), Turkmenistan, Syria, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

In true Gorillaz fashion, the album boasts an eclectic mix of collaborators, featuring performances in five languages—Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Yoruba. Guest appearances include Idles, Kara Jackson, Yasiin Bey, Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Black Thought (The Roots), Anoushka Shankar, and Omar Souleyman.

Adding a haunting twist, The Mountain also features sampled or archival vocals from several late collaborators and cultural icons, including Bobby Womack, Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, Dennis Hopper, Mark E. Smith, Proof, and Tony Allen.

Following the album’s release, Gorillaz will embark on a UK and Ireland tour beginning March 21 in Manchester and wrapping up with a massive show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on June 20. Support acts include Trueno and Sparks on select dates.

Fans can tune in and listen live on BBC Radio 2 or stream afterward via BBC Sounds to catch the exclusive debut of The Mountain’s lead single and hear from Albarn and the Gorillaz team about the ambitious new record.