Deltron 3030 return after 13 years with new album

Music

In a year of surprising and welcome musical comebacks, Deltron 3030, the legendary underground hip-hop supergroup formed of the Gorillaz and Dr Octagon producer Dan The Automator Nakamura, Ninja Tune DJ Kid Koala and rapper Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, are the latest to announce their return. Back in 2000 Deltron 3030 followed in the footsteps of James Lavelles U.N.K.L.E. with a self-titled album billed as a 31st-century space opera, which opened with a Scorsese-style soundtrack monologue from Damon Albarn, who adopted the moniker Sir Damien Thorn VII of the Cockfosters Clan. Other luminaries featured on the album included Sean Lennon, Peanut Butter Wolf, Brad from Crash Test Dummies, Mr Lif and the mighty Prince Paul.

The latest album, Event II, kicks off with an intro from the actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (most recently seen starring as the lead in the movie Looper), on Stardate, which sets the scene for the return of Dan and Dels The Automator and Deltron Zero, alter-egos from a galaxy far, far away.

?Other high-profile names involved in the project include Albarn again, RATMs Zack De La Rocha, Mike Patton and, rather bizarrely, the dinky jazz tinkler Jamie Cullum. Joining Levitt on the thespian tip is the actress Mary Elizabeth Wanstead (Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World), who is launching her singing career with this collaboration.

Recently Nakamura has been much in demand as a producer, working on albums for Kasabian and Miles Kane, but this is a return to his roots. The album was preceded by an EP, City Rising from the Ashes, which showcased the outfits pioneering sci-fi flavoured, post-apocalyptic hip-hop sound.