GoGo Penguin are an English band from Manchester, featuring pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott. Scott joined the group at the start of 2022 after the departure of Rob Turner, who cited creative differences. The name came from a drunken incident with a weird looking stuffed penguin. ‘We got our first gig at Sandbar in Manchester and desperately needed a name, so we started throwing ideas about and the penguin telepathically gave us the solution. Hence ‘Penguin’, ‘Go Penguin’ and eventually ‘Gogo Penguin’.’
The band’s music features break-beats, minimalist piano melodies, powerful basslines, drums inspired from electronica and anthemic riffs. They compose and perform as a unit. Their music incorporates elements of electronica, trip-hop, jazz, rock and classical music. Critics have described GoGo Penguin’s music with references to Aphex Twin, Massive Attack, Brian Eno, modern classical composers Shostakovich and Debussy, or contemporary minimal music composers like Philip Glass.
The band received positive reviews as they released their debut album Fanfares in 2012 and their follow-up album v2.0 in 2014. In September 2014, v2.0 was shortlisted for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Album of the Year. In 2015, GoGo Penguin signed to Blue Note Records (France). Their album Man Made Object was released in 2016; the following album, A Humdrum Star, was released in February 2018. An eponymously named album was released on 5 June 2020.
Their brand new album ‘Everything Is Going to Be OK’ has just been released. Bursting with the optimism of new beginnings, with a new drummer, a new record label, (Sony Music electronica and neo-classical imprint XXIM Records), and a subtly updated and developed sound, the band are ushering in a more sonically liberated era.
‘Everything Is Going to Be OK is born from a time of turbulence and loss. During a personally difficult period for the band, including deep personal loss and mourning, 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, together, we will emerge stronger; everything is going to be ok.‘
As an extra I thought you might like to hear this alternative version of Hopopono.
