No text accompanied the image, and no press release has been announced, but it seems as though they’re dropping hints that the creation of the long-awaited follow-ups to 2010′s Plastic Beach and The Fall is underway. (via Filter)

Cibo Matto are also in the process of writing new songs for an upcoming album, which is scheduled for release by early 2012. The shows will consist of a mix of new songs and old; new material may may stream in the future at the band’s new website: www.yeahbasicallycibomatto.com.

Cibo Matto was founded in 1994 and the band lasted until 2001. Yuka Honda has since collaborated with the Plastic Ono Band, Petra Haden, Mike Watt, Tricky, Beastie Boys, and many more. Miho Hatori was first person to provide the voice of Gorillaz member Noodle.

Tour dates, a teaser video, and a video of a live performance of “Birthday Cake” are below.

Cibo Matto on Tour
6/21 Seattle, WA @ Neumos
6/22 Vancouver, BC @ Fortune
6/23 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
6/25 San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s
6/26 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl w/Yellow Magic Orchestra
7/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
7/14 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
7/16 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
7/18 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
7/19 Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel
7/20 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

Lost In The Sound yanked some info from the Gorillaz-Unofficial site, on which Jamie Hewlett’s son, Denholm, posted the following:

“Hey everyonee, listen, i just spoke to my dad and told him about this, and he said its rubbish, they have kinda fallen out, just not about the reasons stated above in the article, they’re just taking time apart from each other to work on other projects gorillaz are not gunna split up, its fine ignore this tabloid x”

So what rumor do you believe? Personally, I’m hoping they stay together so we can eventually see the fishbowl-head tentacle guy make his debut with the cartoon band.

Consequence of Sound reports that a series of “angry rows” between Damon Albarn (Blur) and artist Jamie Hewlett have effectively ended the band. Albarn hinted in the Gorillaz last performance in early December in Auckland, New Zealand that the end may be near for the band; as it turns out, it was the last ever Gorillaz performance. Albarn is currently at work with Blur and writing an opera.

Scroll to 3:27 to hear Albarn’s speech at the final Gorillaz show

After holding a fan competition to create a new member, the project’s illustrator Jamie Hewlett is ready to bring another character to life: The Evangelist, a bizarre, kind of fucked up looking guy with a fishbowl for a head and octopuses stuck to his arms.

The following is from the contest page on the Gorillaz website, describing the concept of The Evangelist:

“The Evangelist” is the opposite of “The Boogieman”; the light to his awful shade. “The Boogieman” has appeared in several images from the Gorillaz world, and now featured in several videos. “The Boogieman” is believed to a dark and hideous figure, composed of all the evil in the world, all wrapped up inside his black swirling cloak. He has a gas mask for a face. He may have reappeared throughout history, an ominous figure accompanying the re-emergence of Murdoc Niccals through all of time…

“The Evangelist” is a similar entity, but the flip-side of “The Boogieman”. He/she may even be revealed as “The Boogieman’s” avenger…is this some new and godly shining angel spirit? Or just someone freshly ejected from a late night ‘disco bar’?

Visit their site to see the contest winner “jirouta’s” submission, as well as a full rendering of Jamie Hewlett’s adaptation, which is partially pictured here at the top of this page.

Honorable Mention

Kanye West
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Big Boi
Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

Big Freedia
Hitz Vol. 1

Vampire Weekend
Contra
the review

“We’re like some great big horrible warship pulling in to the Bay of Glastonbury to save the day. It was us or the Beatles, and they split up years ago. The previous soldiers got pulled from duty last minute so it’s up to my Plastic Beach naval cavalry to sail in and sort the battlefield out. I can assure you though, I’m bringing extra troops. Loads of them. “

Of course, you have Bono to thank for this!

Interview:

Performance:

Blur’s manager Chris Morrison says it is important that the song be made available to fans legally: “To avoid fans having to illegally obtain an inferior copy of this track from pirate sites, we have made it freely available through the band’s website.” Also, you need to enter your email address, which makes this a brilliant marketing scheme by an otherwise stagnant band. If you’d like to try before you fork over your address, you can stream the song on YouTube.