Through the course of music history there have been numerous accounts of artists taking their acts solo, to differing success.

English singer/songwriter and pop icon Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz did just that recently with the release of his new solo electronic album “Everyday Robots,” released April 28.

Born in London in 1968, Albarn grew up schooled in the likes of piano, guitar and violin. In the mid-90s, Albarn and his brit-pop band Blur quickly rose to success in the British mainstream.

In the 2000’s Albarn formed the virtual hip-hop group Gorillaz, a huge success in the United States. After almost twenty years in the music scene Albarn has decided to take his music solo.

“Robots” takes a darker, melancholy look into the versatile artist’s musical repertoire.

Beginning with the title track, “Robots” quickly dives into the artist’s personal belief system. He calls out the technological world we live in in a negative way by saying we have distanced ourselves from each other because of our infatuation with technology. The first line he sings, “We’re everyday robots on our phones, in the process of getting home/looking like standing stone.”

Most of the album’s songs follow this trend of deep, ominous hip-hop beats, underlying Albarn’s unique melancholy vocal tone.

Throughout the album Albarn returns to this trend of highs and lows, although he mostly stays around the low end.

However, toward the middle of the album listeners get a little bit of a higher note. The album’s third track, “Lonely Pressing Play” works as a nice transition into a lighter mood. Using a variety of different samples, Albarn creates a symphony-type atmosphere while inviting the listener into his inner psyche.

By the next song “Mr. Tembo,” the mood has lightened and the beat turns from one rooted in deeper tones to a more upbeat, tap-your-foot kind of song. With background vocals lifting the narrative he tries to convey through this album, this song lifts the spirits in a playful manner.

The album’s final song, “Heavy Seas of Love,” follows suit. The listner can tell when Albarn lifts his spirit. His voice rises on these songs while a more vibrant tone emits from his vocals.

The melodic sound of a slower piano becomes a reoccurring theme throughout the album, working quite well with the narrative Albarn has written.

The album comes together as a introspective look into the mind of Damon Albarn. It moves along in a mellow mood, but the message of us as humans being separated from each other by technology is the most important theme.

Kyle Sutton can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter @KyleSutton_DE or by phone at 536-3311 ext. 254.