Damon Albarn Monkeys Around

Damon Albarn's simian obsession continues with a new project with Gorillaz collaborator Jamie Hewlett called Monkey, who will release Journey To The West in North America in the early fall through XL Recordings.

The album was produced by the Blur frontman and features European and Chinese musicians and singers recorded in London, England and Beijing, China over the last year. The lyrics are based on ancient Chinese texts and performed in Mandarin. The 50-minute album is based on Monkey: Journey To The West, an opera that premiered in Manchester, England last year and opened at London's Royal Opera House on Wednesday.

"Heavenly Peach Banquet," "I Love Buddha" and "The Living Sea" can be previewed on Monkey's website.

Monkey music, artwork and animations are being used by the BBC as part of its coverage of next month's summer Olympics in Beijing. You can see a video on the BBC website.

Here are the tracks on Journey To The West:

"Monkey's World"
"Monkey Travels"
"Into The Eastern Sea"
"The Living Sea"
"The Dragon King"
"Iron Rod"
"Out Of The Eastern Sea"
"Heavenly Peach Banquet"
"Battle In Heaven"
"O Mi To Fu"
"Whisper"
"Tripitaka's Curse"
"Confessions Of A Pig"
"Sandy The River Demon"
"March Of The Volunteers"
"The White Skeleton Demon"
"Monk's Song"
"I Love Buddha"
"March Of The Iron Army"
"Pigsy In Space"
"Monkey Bee"
"Disappearing Volcano"