Track Of The Day: The Good, The Bad And The Queen - Merrie Land

Haunted fairground vibes and graceful melancholia are very much the order on the new track from The Good, The Bad And The Queen. Prolific as ever following two Gorillaz albums in the space of a year, the legend that is Damon Albarn has been in the studio with his supergroup that also features Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong and afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. 11 years on from their self-titled debut album, their second LP 'Merrie Land' is due on November 16. Featuring a video led by a creepy wax puppet, the title track is the first taster from the upcoming record. 

The LP will be self-released on the newly created label Studio 13. Produced by Tony Visconti and The Good, The Bad and The Queen, Merrie Land contains 10 new songs - written during the current period in which the UK is preparing to leave the European Union - creating a reluctant good-bye letter, a series of observations and reflections on Britishness in 2018.

Merrie Land’s focus moves beyond GBQ’s London-themed first album to a wider land, with a beautiful and hopeful paean to the Britain of today, an inclusive Britain, currently in an Anglo-Saxostentialist crises at the end of a relationship, wondering  what might be salvaged. Could there be a more perfect band - with their creative symbiosis of pasts and present and shared acclaimed music histories - to reflect on the anticipation, disorientation and confusion of current life.

December sees the band set out on tour for a run of UK shows, performing this collection of new songs live, for the very first time, in Blackpool, Glasgow and East London.