No More Bad News by www.musicistoblame.co.uk

TRACK REVIEW

Gorillaz are back. The virtual quartet, fronted by musical legend Damon Albarn, have been stirring up excitement for their latest project all year, having recently played a string of shows to close out their “House of Kong” exhibition in London, a pop-up showcase celebrating the band’s history.

The final night of their short run saw the band play their new album in full, with phones banned to ensure the album was only heard by those in attendance.

A week later, the band officially revealed the mystery album as ‘The Mountain’, scheduled for release on 30th March 2026, alongside a series of UK arena dates. This announcement was accompanied by the release of the album’s first single, ‘The Happy Dictator’.

From its opening chords, the track is unmistakably Gorillaz, as it employs their signature multimedia sound. Soaring vocals, spoken word, and an upbeat synth riff mesh to deliver danceable commentary.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1, Albarn explained that the track was inspired by his visit to Turkmenistan, where its ruling dictator suppresses the reporting of bad news as an attempt to keep the population’s spirits up. The chorus aptly reflects this as featured collaborator Sparks sings “No more bad news / So you can sleep well at night / And the palace of your mind will be bright”.

With this lead single, Gorillaz reaffirm their ability to blend political satire with infectious rhythms, even after 25 years of operation. This track sets an exciting precedent for ‘The Mountain’, promising more genre-defying magic to come.

Zahra Hanif