Damon Albarn does supergroups as regularly as other people do the washing up. This year's ensemble includes Tony Allen, Flea, Erykah Badu, Fatoumata Diawara and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.
Allen is the centre of the group: from the very first track, Fela Kuti's legendary drummer sets a loose, funky template on which all his collaborators can elaborate. In parts it is traditional Afrobeat; in others, as on Night Watch, it veers towards the jazz-funk of Sun Ra or, on Forward Sweep, a psych-influenced groove.
Albarn's talent with a pop melody is deployed deliciously, via dirty keyboard touches or across entire Gorillazish tracks such as Hey, Shooter and Poison.
There is, however, a fragmentary feel to the album, with so many songs (18), most built around just a few short phrases.
Not all the collaborators are of the highest calibre either, with Ghanaian rapper M.anifest a little overexposed. But the musicality and effervescent spirit are the qualities that abide.
