Gorillaz Share "Strange Timez" Feat. Robert Smith & Announce New Album Song Machine: Season One - Strange Timez (Parlophone Records)
Robert Smith has been the long-time smeared lipstick-wearing frontman of The Cure since 1978. Aside from his beloved body of work with The Cure, Smith has released a limited number of outer-band recordings on his own. Those including collaborations with, but not limited to, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Glove, Cult Hero, Crystal Castles, The Twilight Sad, blink-182, The Stranglers, KoЯn, and Junkie XL. Robert Smith has, additionally, released a number of solo recordings including "Pictures of You" (Paul Mac Remix) from the One Perfect Day Soundtrack, a cover of Kathryn Beaumont's "Very Good Advice" from Almost Alice, a cover of John Martyn's "Small Hours" the Johnny Boy Would Love This tribute comp. and lastly, a cover of Frank Sinatra's "Witchcraft" from Frankenweenie Unleashed! (Music Inspired By The Motion Picture.) It was announced earlier this week Smith would be appearing alongside Gorillaz, the long-time "virtual" band of Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewlett.
"Coming up on Song Machine... It's @RobertSmith 🚀 Follow your nearest Song Machine NOW!" Gorillaz (@gorillaz) Tweeted Monday afternoon. By mid-day Wednesday, Gorillaz had unveiled Song Machine Episode 6: "Strange Timez" with Robert Smith. Their accompanying Song Machine Episode 6 digital EP features "Song Machine: Machine Bitez #12," the aforementioned super-collaboration, "Machine Bitez #13," and "Strange Timez" - Robert Smith AURORA Remix. "Strange Timez" was accompanied by a fittingly spacey music video directed by Jamie Hewlett featuring animated Astronauts 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle & Russel Hobbs floating around outer-space juxtaposed against imagery of Robert Smith. "Strange Timez" is extremely catchy and it's great to hear these two Brit Rock/Goth luminaries on a track together blending their beloved styles once and for all. Along with the interstellar release of "Strange Timez," Gorillaz have announced their seventh studio album, Song Machine: Season One - Strange Timez.
It showcases six recently released "episodes" of Song Machine: "Momentary Bliss" Feat. slowthai & Slaves, "Désolé" Feat. Fatoumata Diawara, "Aries" Feat. Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order) & Georgia, "Friday 13th" Feat. Octavian, and "PAC-MAN" Feat. ScHoolboy Q produced by Prince Paul, as well as "Strange Timez." Additionally, the standard 11-track version of Song Machine boasts appearances from Beck, Leee John, St. Vincent, Elton John & 6LACK, and Kano & Roxani Arias. Plus, there's a 17-track deluxe version of Song Machine containing Bonus Tracks, which boasts appearances from EARTHGANG, Joan As Police Woman, GoldLink & Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Moonchild Sanelly, JPEGMAFIA & CHAI, and a posthumous collaboration with Nigerian drummer Tony Allen along with Skepta. Gorillaz's Song Machine: Season One - Strange Timez will see a wide release on Friday, October 23, 2020, via Parlophone Records. It's currently available for pre-order in a number of distinct multi-media packages, along with Gorillaz first hardcover annual Gorillaz ALMANAC published by Z2 Comics.