Now boasting the kind of longevity and influence that most non-virtual pop groups would kill for, Gorillaz unleashed their third long player in 2010. Plastic Beach was a concept album dealing with mankind’s relationship with the environment, and painted from a kaleidoscopic palette of mind-bending musical influences, juxtaposing Eastern strings with swaggering hip hop beats and squelching electro. Almost audible too was the scuffling of disparate überstars as they tussled to be part of one of the most inventive albums of the year, with Bobby Womack, Mark E Smith and De La Soul amongst the victorious.