Plastic Beach

Adventurous third album from cartoon super group

Stretching the boundaries of a side-project further than ever, the third album by the "virtual" cartoon pop band Gorillaz features an ever-expanding cast of special guest stars (from The National Orchestra For Arabic Music to Mick Jones and Paul Simonon playing together for the first time since The Clash) all superbly directed by Damon Albarn - once of Blur now occupying an entirely different pop planet.

Inspired by the very real trash island - said to be double the size of Texas - that's floating around the Pacific Ocean, Plastic Beach is a technicoloured jumble of the imagination. Naturally not all of the 16 tracks click instantly but those that do are pop masterpieces - Stylo brilliantly weaves together Bobby Womack, Mos Def and Albarn's own melancholy vocals to create a compelling groove, grumpy Mark E Smith adds some cranky charm to the techno squelch of Glitter Freeze and De La Soul and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals combine beautifully to create the magnificent pop jingle Superfast Jellyfish. A mind-bending feast for the ears.

Album Review by Johnny Dee