Gorillaz Return with ScHoolboy Q-assisted Song Machine Season 1 Episode 5 for PAC-MAN's 40th Anniversary (Parlophone Records)

For the past few months, Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewlett's long-running "cartoon" band, Gorillaz, singer 2-D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, guitarist Noodle, and drummer Russel Hobbs, have been trickling out new songs sporadically during Quarantine. As part of their ongoing Song Machine series, Gorillaz have released numerous "Episodes" (songs) and "Machine Bitez" including "Momentary Bliss" Feat. slowthai & Slaves, "Désolé" Feat. Fatoumata Diawara, "Aries" Feat. Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order) & Georgia, and "Friday 13th" Feat. Octavian. Plus, Gorillaz shared another non-Song Machine song by way of "How Far?" Feat. Tony Allen & Skepta in tribute/homage to Damon Albarn's long-time friend and collaborator, Allen, who, unfortunately, passed away back in April at the age of 79. "Song Machine—the cartoon music contraption, which spits out brand new episodes fresh from the studio, as and when they happen—will see Gorillaz joined by an exciting and ever-evolving roster of as-yet-unannounced collaborators captured live in Kong Studios alongside the world's most successful virtual band. The cameras are rolling 24/7, the fourth wall is broken, the kettle is on, the chaos is real, the door is open... what's coming next? Stay tuned, explains a press release. Albarn and his virtual bandmate, 2-D, additionally, appeared together on Jimmy Kimmel Live performing a socially-distant remotely-recorded rendition of Song Machine, Episode 3: "Aries."


"How Far?" was recorded in London prior to world-wide Lockdowns and, now, it appears as though Gorillaz recorded one more song before everything shut down; "produced by Prince Paul, Remi Kabaka, Jr. and Gorillaz and recorded in London just before Lockdown, "PAC-MAN" Feat. ScHoolboy Q comes on the 40th anniversary of the much-loved iconic game," said press release continues. It's Gorillaz first time collaborating with one-time De La Soul producer Prince Paul, as well as Black Hippy emcee and Kendrick Lamar affiliate ScHoolboy Q, but Remi Kabaka, Jr. is a long-time collaborator. Kabaka is a music producer, art director, percussionist, and voice actor—providing the speaking voice for fictional drummer Russel Hobbs— who officially became Gorillaz's drummer and producer in 2016. "PAC-MAN" was recorded and released by Gorillaz to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the iconic video game's May 22, 1980 debut. "PAC-MAN" sees the band feel the effects of an arcade game procured for Kong Studios by Gorillaz bassist Murdoc Niccals & ScHoolboy Q in mysterious circumstances, resulting in some unexpected cartoon visitors. Gorillaz's "PAC-MAN," as well as all five previous episodes of Song Machine, can now be viewed on YouTube and across digital streaming platforms, via Parlophone Records.