What do “Humility” and “Give Me the Night” have in common? George Benson’s delectable guitar licks, that’s what.
An accidental encounter put Benson and Albarn on the same page, or rather, in the same song. But, the match is mostly magnificent if the end result counts for anything. Soft, swaying summer sounds swirl to ecstatic perfection. And yes, the fact that Benson’s contributions fit so well is as weird as it’s wonderful.
“Humility” is slick and sleek with minimal beat stylings and a certain sway in the rhythm. It’s as if the entire aesthetic of early eighties smooth jazz has gotten tangled up in a modern song.
“Calling the world from isolation
‘Cause right now, that’s the ball where we be chained
And if you’re coming back to find me
You’d better have good aim”
Bright and brilliantly embellished with tasteful touches on guitar, “Humility” sounds like sunlight should and would, if it had a sound. Wooping, warbling, sliding… It’s relaxed soul and upbeat jazz jumbled up together.
The daydreamer brand of vocals we can recall from “Melancholy Hill” jibe elegantly in this relatively cheerful release. It’s a supremely Gorillaz Gorillaz track; tight, crackling with electric synths and pervasively experimental.
“Humility” is everything that keeps Gorillaz intriguing decades since the project’s inception.
I like it. I like it very much, yes. What do you think?
