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GOGO PENGUIN

GoGo Penguin

Necessary Fictions

    GoGo Penguin, the Manchester trio that has inspirationally blended jazz, classical, and electronic influences since forming in 2012, has reached a thrilling moment with their new album, 'Necessary Fictions'.

    This release finds pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott digging deep internally to reach their integral and authentic qualities at this moment in time. This entails some of their boldest moves to date, such as incorporating modular synthesizers into their sound more than ever before. For the first time, GoGo Penguin expanded their familiar three-man formation to invite guest players, including the Manchester Collective led by creative director and violinist Rakhi Singh. Additionally, 'Forgive The Damages' features the debut appearance of a human voice on a GoGo Penguin recording, belonging to singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko.

    All told, 'Necessary Fictions' is an album of ambitious fresh developments from a band fully at ease with who they are: confident enough to open the door to collaboration, excited about where they can explore next, and keen to have fun doing so.

    STAFF COMMENTS

    Barry says: Formerly one of the only bands even slightly jazz-adjacent i'd consider myself a fan of, Gogo Penguin ooze non-frantic, languid and easy. All of this while retaining the sort of impeccable frenetic musicianship and effortlessly beautiful developmental songwriting we've become used to from them. It's impeccable, and it's pretty and it looks *stunning* too. We've got a lovely signed edition as well! Essential.

    TRACK LISTING

    1. Umbra
    2. Fallowfield Loops
    3. Forgive The Damages (feat. Daudi Matsiko)
    4. What We Are And What We Are Meant To Be
    5. Background Hiss Reminds Me Of Rain
    6. The Turn Within
    7. Living Bricks In Dead Mortar
    8. Naga Ghost
    9. Luminous Giants (feat. Rakhi Singh And Manchester Collective)
    10. Float (Loi Krathong, 2003)
    11. State Of Flux (feat. Manchester Collective)
    12. Silence Speaks

    GoGo Penguin

    From The North - GoGo Penguin Live In Manchester

      GoGo Penguin - From The North captures the Manchester-based trio at an exciting moment within their trajectory. For this limited-edition Vinyl, the trio decided to re-arrange a selection of 7 tracks from ‘Between Two Waves’, their first EP on XXIM Records, as well as from their latest album ‘Everything Is Going to Be OK’. The live session was recorded and filmed at Old Granada Studios in Manchester, an iconic studio complex that has played a significant part of the band’s own musical history.

      GoGo Penguin is an emotive, break-beat minimalist trio from Manchester, UK. Formed in 2012 its sophomore album 'v2.0' was nominated in 2014 for the Mercury Music Prize and in 2016 the trio signed to Blue Note Records, releasing a trio of acclaimed albums: 'Man Made Object', 'A Humdrum Star' and 'GoGo Penguin', as well as two EP’s and a remix album, 'GGP/RMX'. With their new record label, XXIM Records, the band ushered in a more ambient era with their EP 'Between Two Waves' and ‘Everything Is Going to Be OK’, which marks the latest chapter in the story of GoGo Penguin.

      TRACK LISTING

      1. Wave Decay
      2. Ascent
      3. Friday Film Special
      4. Everything Is Going To Be OK
      5. Unbroken Thread Of Awareness
      6. You're Stronger Than You Think
      7. Parasite

      GoGo Penguin

      Everything Is Going To Be Okay

        Emotive, break-beat minimalist trio GoGo Penguin are back, with their brand new album “Everything Is Going to Be OK”. Bursting with the optimism of new beginnings, with a new drummer, their new record label, (Sony Records' electronica and classical imprint XXIM Records), and a subtly updated and developed sound, the band are ushering in a more ambient era.

        “Everything Is Going to Be OK” is born from a time of turbulence and loss. During an oppressive grieving period, the studio offered the band a sanctuary from real life. The resulting project, given such vibrant life here, draws its strength from a shared understanding and empathy. Life has many great aspects to it and despite the lows, we should be mindful and grateful to celebrate the highs at every turn. Through our hardships, we will emerge stronger - everything is going to be ok.

        STAFF COMMENTS

        Barry says: I've loved GoGo Penguin in every iteration of their sound thus far. Minimal loungy jazz business, flickering electronica and grooving soulful instrumentals, they've all been brilliant. It's a big thing then, when I say with some confidence then that the optimistic melodic turns and perfectly produced hazy flicker of 'Everything Is Going To Be Ok' is by far my favourite GGP sound yet. Lovely.

        TRACK LISTING

        You’re Stronger Than You Think
        Glimmerings
        Saturnine
        Glow
        Friday Film Special
        Soon Comes Night
        An Unbroken Thread Of Awareness
        We May Not Stay
        Everything Is Going To Be OK
        Last Breath
        You’re Stronger Than You Think (Revisit)
        Parasite
        Sanctuary

        Gogo Penguin

        Between Two Waves

          Recorded at the end of 2021, Between Two Waves, marks the latest chapter in the story of GoGo Penguin. A joyful, powerful collection of new music is now available on vinyl which also includes 5 postcards.

          As the band regroup after the strange, challenging and at times, tragic couple of years which preceded it, this album captures a moment of rebirth and movement for one of contemporary music’s most exciting bands and explores that sense of excitement and anticipation as you move through life. With a new line-up, drummer Jon Scott joined pianist Chris Illingworth and bassist Nick Blacka a few months before the recording sessions at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, and a new label, XXIM Records. For the band, it represented both business as usual with a welcome return to the recording studio, but also something of a fresh start. A chance to explore new ideas and experiment, as they expanded the range of sounds and voices within the tracks, and the Eurorack modular and Moog synths found their places between their signature piano, double-bass and drums on tracks like Badeep, Wave Decay and Lost in Thought. 

          TRACK LISTING

          Badeep
          Ascent
          Wave Decay
          Lost In Thought
          The Antidote Is In The Poison

          GoGo Penguin

          V2.0 - Signed Orange Vinyl Special Edition

            PICCADILLY EXCLUSIVE SIGNED COPIES.

            Originally released in March 2014, v2.0, was GoGo Penguin's breakthrough album and the first to feature the rebooted line-up with new bassist Nick Blacka, pianist Chris Illingworth and drummer Rob Turner. It was named a Mercury Prize album of the year 2014 alongside albums from Damon Albarn, Young Fathers and Jungle. The extended version was first released on 2xLP for RSD 18 on clear vinyl.

            This version features the same extended tracklist on translucent orange vinyl.

            Newly remastered for vinyl (by the original engineer)
            2xLP deluxe gatefold edition.
            A percentage of sales on this edition will be donated to NHS Charities Together.

            v2.0 includes the hit singles, Hopopono, Garden Dog Barbecue and Kamaloka as well as the remarkable One Percent and live favourite To Drown in You. Included here for the first time is theincessant 'Break' featuring a killer groove that offers a notdto the one and only Squarepusher, 'Wash', a haunting slice of the band at their most ambient and the wonderful 'In Amber', the first track that the new line-up wrote completely together.


            TRACK LISTING

            1. Murmuration 
            2. Garden Dog Barbecue 
            3. Kamaloka
            4. Fort 
            5. One Percent 
            6. Home
            7. The Letter 
            8. To Drown In You
            9. Shock And Awe
            10. Hopopono
            11. Break 
            12. In Amber
            13. Wash

            Signed to Matthew Halsall's Gondwana Records and championed by DJs from Mike Chadwick to Gilles Peterson and Jamie Cullum GoGo Penguin's skittering break-beats, telepathic interplay and a penchant for anthemic melody all contribute to a sound that's wholly their own. Pianist Chris Illingworth's yearning classical influenced melodies are filtered through the dance music energy of bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner.

            Brilliantly recorded by their long-term sound engineer Joe Reiser and studio engineer Brendan Williams the band have taken full advantage of the increased recording budget, the success of their debut afforded, to record a statement of real intent. 'v2.0' is a gloriously vibrant technicolor snap-shot of a band finding their own voice - as drawing on a heady brew of influences from Brian Eno, John Cage and Squarepusher to Manchester's grey rain-streaked urban streets they create a brave new sound all their own.

            "A really brilliant modern piano trio that takes in the whole history of music. I think they're really special." - Jamie Cullum

            "That is a little bit special, brand new album, it's been a year now GoGo Penguin working on their latest material, out of Manchester, 'Kamaloka' the name of this track." - Gilles Peterson


            TRACK LISTING

            1. Murmuration
            2. Garden Dog Barbecue
            3. Kamaloka
            4. Fort
            5. One Percent
            6. Home
            7. The Letter
            8. To Drown In You
            9. Shock And Awe
            10. Hopopono
            11. Break (Indies Exclusive Bonus Track)
            12. In Amber (Indies Exclusive Bonus Track)

            Shop favourites (2016 end-of-year chart high-rollers) Gogo Penguin return for their latest outing on legendary jazz label, Blue Note. The thing about Gogo penguin is, they're a jazz band, but without all the things you'd associate with a jazz band. The beards are as few as their years, and the chin-stroking is not only minimal, but actively discouraged. Their last outing (the stunning 'Man Made Object') mixed the subtle downtempo percussion and slowly unfurling progressions of traditional jazz with tender, minimalistic electronics and ambient textures reminiscent of modern-classical contemporaries liberally littered around the Erased Tapes roster.

            Whilst their compositions are completely instrumental, there seems to be a wealth of outside influence making itself known through the phrasing and keys used. While 2015 / 2016 were in no way dream years for society in general, it was clear that there was a playfulness in their delivery of songs like 'Quiet Mind' (incidentally, this particular piece reminded me of the other 'Penguin' band, no bad thing).

            As soon as we finish the frenetic buzzing and claustrophobic atmospheres of 'Prayer', it becomes clear that the rather torrid world climate has indeed osmosed into their compositions, swapping out the languid bobbing atmospheres of yesteryear for a highly charged, powerfully visceral sound experience. While the melodic counterpoints are as ever, impeccably realised (and perfectly accentuated by Turner's mindblowing skin-smacking), the euphoric peak is often hidden behind a flurry of call-response dialogue, the peak only being reached through an intentionally laboured conversational swell.

            While throughout the album, the simmering malaise invariably breaks through into a grand and sweeping relief, it is in pieces like 'A Hundred Moons' that we get the full-force of their compositional genius, breaking through the residual gloom with airy, tropical percussion and a cleansing palate of major-key lifts and twinkling plucks. Without waxing lyrical about every song in turn, there really isn't much more that can be said, you'll just have to listen to it yourself. Truth of the matter is, Gogo Penguin are one of a kind, and continue to pioneer their own spellbinding brand of electronic jazz. 



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