Not content with having two successful bands in Blur and Gorillaz, vocalist Damon Albarn has four new projects underway. On Oct. 27, Albarn flew to Algiers, where he spent three days producing Algerian group El Gusto for an album due on his own Honest Jon's label in spring 2007.

Returning to London, the artist had to knuckle down to a December deadline for completing an operatic score for "Monkey: Journey to the West," based on an ancient Chinese legend. The work is due to premiere at the Manchester International Festival of Arts, to be held June 28-July 15.

The singer says he is also working on a feature-length Gorillaz film with former "Monty Python's Flying Circus" animator Terry Gilliam. "The one thing I never want to be guilty of," Albarn says, "is repeating myself."

As previously reported, Albarn is also making the rounds with a new band, the Good, the Bad and the Queen, which also features former Clash bassist Paul Simonon, ex-Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. The group's self-titled debut is due in January and is led by the single "Herculean."

Here is the track list for "The Good, The Bad and The Queen":


"History Song"
"80's Life"
"Northern Whale"
"Kingdom of Doom"
"Herculean"
"Behind the Sun"
"The Bunting Song"
"Nature Springs"
"A Soldier's Tale"
"Three Changes"
"Green Fields"
"The Good, The Bad and The Queen"