By diversifying his musical projects, Damon Albarn constantly manages to renew himself, the new ideas injected into his solo or collaborative albums fueling the creation of The Good, the Bad and the Queen and Gorillaz, and vice versa. This cautious fourth album in six years from Gorillaz demonstrates that he should perhaps go elsewhere for a while – in a new Blur album, to accompany his return to the scene this summer, perhaps? Cracker Island leaves an impression of already heard elsewhere (on the three famous first albums) and better in the discography of the fictitious group, this melancholic mixture of pop and hip-hop stuffed with distinguished guests which recycles the same good ideas, which do not no longer arouse quite the same wonder. On paper, the menu is enticing, featuring Bad Bunny, Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala and Beck, and some songs stand out, such as Skinny Ape And SilentRunningbut we are far from the richness, conceptual and sonic, of the compositions of Plastic Beach (2010).
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