From hip hop icon Mos Def to the soulful cries of Bobby Womack on “Stylo”, a playful ballad with Little Dragon and a visit from Lou Reed, Blur frontman Damon Albarn once again handpicks a wide range of artists in this cross-genre collective. “Welcome to the World of Plastic Beach” features Snoop Dog leading the pack in a cheeky commentary on environmental disaster and post-apocalyptic dreams. Though diverse, the common theme and injection of electronic beats thread this eclectic tapestry together beautifully. With dreamy synths in “On Melancholy Hill” and “Rhinestone Eyes”, Albarn delivers some of his best orchestrations. His ability to nurture the subtle nuances, allowing them to grow in an organic way, is explored seamlessly here.
