Track Review by indiependent.co.uk

Marking two years since the release of their 2023 number one album Cracker Island, digital supergroup Gorillaz are back with a brand new single- a ‘feel good’ tune featuring a collaboration with American pop duo Sparks.

Gorillaz marked their twenty-fourth anniversary with a four-show residency at London’s Copper Box Arena. Playing through their hit albums in full on selected dates, fans were treated to a night of back-to-back hits, with several tracks being played live for the first time. While the first three nights were celebrations of their pre-established music (Gorillaz, Demon Days, and Plastic Beach), the 3 September closed off the run with a “Mystery Show”.

Taking fans by surprise, frontman Damon Albarn and the rest of his band (as well as a number of featured collaborative artists) thrilled fans with a full performance of a brand new album: The Mountain, which is due to be released on 20 March 2026.

While the new album may feel a long way off, the first single, ‘The Happy Dictator’, certainly does not sell it short.

Spinning the substance of what makes Gorillaz so revolutionary to begin with into something entirely refreshing and new, ‘The Happy Dictator’ is a breath of fresh air. Reportedly, the song is inspired by a recent trip to Turkmenistan, where ruling dictator Serdar Berdimuhamedow would tamper with news stories to keep his citizens appeased- hence the persistent backing vocals of “oh what a happy land we live in” sung by collaborators Sparks.

As Albarn worded it in an interview with NME, the track “touches that sweet spot between making something that’s fun and also got some social, political clout to it.” Once again, Gorillaz have managed to take a serious matter, make a statement, and keep it an enjoyable experience. However, Albarn is not particularly known for leaving substance out of his music, so it does not come as a surprise.

Opening with a lilting introduction from Sparks vocalist Russell Mael, the track slowly builds before breaking into a choral introduction – declaring “I am the one to give you life again, I am the one to save your soul, Amen”. A sudden beat drop later, the track breaks through into an electronic backing, holding onto the backbone of the Gorillaz sound while ensuring it is not a repetition of previous material- a skill which Albarn and co-founder Jamie Hewlett have always maintained.

Offering addictively scratchy vocals, Albarn (singing as fictional frontman 2D) manages effortlessly to sound both relaxing and demanding of the listener’s attention, a talent he has clearly held onto from his time in Blur back in the nineties.

With verses that pull you straight in, the track seamlessly jumps into the chorus- a slight change of tone but not enough for it to be remotely jarring, rather keeping the listener on their toes. With Damon belting out promises of “no more bad news, so you can sleep well at night, and the palace of your mind will be bright” supported by the relaxing vocals of Sparks, the track builds throughout to create an incredible listening experience. Harnessing all of the timeless and experimental power of Gorillaz, it is not difficult to imagine a field full of eager festival-goers yelling this chorus back at the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage (although for that, we can only hope).

As the track reaches its conclusion, Mael leads us through another tonal shift into the last echoing bridge of the song. Acting as a breakthrough into the emotions of the listener, Mael asks “Are you not better off than ever? Are you not better off right now? When have you felt this way, I ask you, when have you felt better off than right now?” highlighting the importance of control and dictatorship, which the song touches so heavily on.

The track is incredibly strong and sets an incredibly high standard for the rest of the album (which will feature collaborations with the likes of IDLES and Johnny Marr). For those who did not manage to attend the Mystery Show, I can only recommend listening to the album the good old-fashioned way- front-to-back with Jamie Hewlett’s incredible visuals in front of you (the way Albarn and Hewlett have said it should be experienced). It may seem like a long wait, but with material this brilliant, it will be worth every second.

Gorillaz have proven again that not only have they still “got it”, but that their music continues to effortlessly evolve and excite old and young fans alike, even twenty-seven years after their formation.

Words by George Connell