The new Gorillaz album, The Now Now, doesn't drop until June 29th, but the cartoon band consisting of 2-D, Noodle, Russell, and Murdoc Ace continue to release new tracks off the project.
The latest, "Fire Flies", is one of their heaviest yet. Despite the levity that the name would suggest, this song is the opposite of joyous. A lumbering bass line trudges the song forward, while a rising brass line creates an air of despair and hopelessness. Like Sisyphus attempting to push the boulder up the hill, the song invokes the image that however the journey will never come to a close, and if it does, it likely wont end well.
In contrast to the upbeat and light "Humility," "Fire Flies" builds up to a big emotional finale that grips the listener. What a shame that they share a release date with Drake.
Quotable Lyrics
If all you ever get from the summit is the count of the fall of man
Every calling cost makes you your heart
You were in the kind of game that put the force in me
I was ever chasing fire flies