Plastic Beach by Gorillaz

Plastic Beach auf Vinyl ist einfach ein Erlebnis für die Sinne! Gorillaz haben mit diesem Album einen modernen Klassiker geschaffen, und auf Vinyl entfaltet sich die ganze Atmosphäre des Albums noch intensiver. Die Songs sind ein genialer Mix aus melancholischem Elektro, Hip-Hop und rockigen Einflüssen, und auf Vinyl wirken die Tracks sogar noch lebendiger und detailreicher. Es ist eine dieser Platten, die man von Anfang bis Ende genießen möchte, ohne einen einzigen Track zu überspringen.

Das Design ist ebenfalls ein absoluter Blickfang. Das Cover-Artwork fängt die dystopische, surreale Stimmung der Plastic Beach perfekt ein – eine einsame Insel aus Plastik, die gleichzeitig schön und bedrückend wirkt. Die Liebe zum Detail ist überall spürbar, und das Cover sieht im Regal einfach fantastisch aus. Das Artwork wird bei dieser Vinyl-Edition auf eine Weise präsentiert, die digitale Formate nicht bieten können.

Für Gorillaz-Fans und Sammler ist diese Vinyl ein absolutes Muss. Der Sound, die visuelle Gestaltung und das Konzept ergeben zusammen ein beeindruckendes Gesamtkunstwerk. Fünf Sterne für ein Album, das nicht nur musikalisch, sondern auch optisch begeistert!

A soft strings tune, coupled with pulsating, sampled brass stabs invite you enter the Plastic Beach, a superficial wonder-world created by the Gorillaz in their third studio album, Plastic Beach.

In their usual style, Gorillaz are back on the top of their game, playing the proverbial “rope-a-dope” with their catchy melodies and rhythms that have found their way onto the album, off the beaten-track. I cannot help but expect one thing from these tunes, only to be surprised by the direction the music goes. Despite their uncanny inability to go the easy route melodically and rhythmically, Gorillaz have created yet another album that hypnotically calls you in to listen.

Despite my better judgment, I have listened to this album three times tonight, with the clock now reading 2:47 a.m. I have about four more songs before the album is completed and I can consider heading to bed. This dream world of fake women, fast living, and consequence free actions is restful enough for now.

Musically, as somebody who has for some reason become entranced by each album released by the production group, I cannot help but notice how much more pop driven this album is in comparison to their previous releases. Eighties inspired synth leads, softer hitting drums, simple rhythms repeating themselves intoxicatingly, all combined with live sound to create an image of life on the fictional island, Plastic Beach. Walking down this shore takes no effort at all; the Gorillaz, similar to the world in which we live, have the ability to mesmerize us and lead us in the direction they please. Despite the harmonic dissonance they frequently employ, the melodies seem surprisingly harmonic, leading you to become entranced in the music. You will beg yourself to continue on the journey with them without asking “silly” questions.

Most impressive about this album, at least regarding the musical production, is how well the group has fused live sounds of the beach and society with synthesized sound. Sometimes the live sounds invite you in, only to leave you to fend for your own with the harsh synthesized sounds on your own. Other times, the two play together throughout the song; the sounds of the ocean coupled with the synthesized sounds paint for you the synthetic shores of Plastic Beach.

Digital music production has come a long way since its roots in the early 1900’s. Early digital composers would have found their world in the studio enough of a dream land; clippings of audio tape hanging from the ceiling like stalactites, entire buildings with huge machines meant to perform the most simple of tasks in today’s production standards. Those early composers seemed to be in ideological wars with each other, trying to prove that synthesized sound alone or live sound alone was the true way to view the emerging art of studio production. The elektronische musik of the past, focusing strictly on the sonic attributes of synthesized sounds, surely has its legacy played out in this album. Yet, the musique concrete concepts that invite us to play strictly with live, recorded sound has been added to the dream world created at Plastic Beach in ways that would make even Iannis Xenakis proud. It is true, now, as evidenced by this album, that the creation of sonic cities can be created, entire worlds, emotions, and actions captured in sound.

Maybe it is time for the future producers, artists, and performers to learn the true power of sound. Gone are the days where lyrics alone are the driving force to songs. With a new emphasis on production, the future is in creating entire worlds through sound. Entire worlds that can be brought to life through performance. Entire worlds that can be brought to life, simply by pressing play on iTunes. My vacation to Plastic Beach is done for now, until I decide to pack up and return for another investigation of the truly fake world, created by the Gorillaz.

Bin vinyle comme d’habitude jolie musique et dessin top

I don’t know… it was delivered in a good condition I guess