Although Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon act has achieved massively popularity, until now they hadn’t made an album that could pass the test of time, despite a notable collection of excellent singles. In ‘Plastic Beach’ Albarn revalidated himself as British pop’s true renaissance man, persuading an impressive cast of guests: Snoop Dogg; Bobby Womack; Lou Reed; Gruff Rhys; De La Soul and Malian’s National Orchestra For Arabic Music among others to feature and adding an incredible range of flavours to the band’s electronic beats. Flaunting great songwriting too and a hint of hyperactivity after their remarkable live shows, they ended 2010 giving away a full new work recorded on Damon’s Ipad while touring.