Details around Gorillaz’s next studio album have continued to take shape with the release of two new tracks, The Hardest Thing and Orange County. Both songs are confirmed to appear on the group’s ninth album, The Mountain, which is scheduled for release on February 27.
The Hardest Thing opens with a posthumous appearance by Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, whose voice introduces the track. The song maintains a restrained, introspective tone, built around minimal electronic elements and subdued vocals.
The companion track Orange County moves in a contrasting direction, featuring sitar contributions from Anoushka Shankar. The recording also includes Argentine producer Bizarrap and American singer-songwriter Kara Jackson, resulting in a more expansive and meditative sound.
