GoGo Penguin

GoGo Penguin
GoGo Penguin
Background information
Origin	Manchester
Genres	Acoustic, Electronica, Jazz
Years active	2012 (2012)–Present
Labels	Blue Note Records (France)
Website	gogopenguin.co.uk
Members	Chris Illingworth (Piano) Nick Blacka (Double Bass) Rob Turner (Drums)
Past members	Grant Russell [1]

GoGo Penguin are a band from Manchester, UK, featuring pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Rob Turner.

Music style

They are known for their skittering break-beats, infectious piano melodies,^[2] powerful and propulsive basslines,^[3] and anthemic riffs.^[4] They compose and perform as a unit,^[5] there is no leader, instead each of them shares ideas and themes from each other. Their music defies the one label categorisation, incorporating elements of electronica, trip-hop, jazz, rock and classical music ^[4] to carve out a unique sound that is wholly their own.^[6]

Their ‘acoustic electronica’ sound draws from a broad range of influences from Aphex Twin to Squarepusher,^[7] Massive Attack to Brian Eno,^[8] alongside modern classical composers such as Shostakovich and Debussy.^[9] Their sound has similarities with other contemporary modern jazz ensemble such as the formerly named Portico Quartet (before they changed music direction).

Critical reception

The band has received critical acclaim since they released their debut album Fanfares in 2012^[10] and their follow-up album v2.0 in 2014.^[11] In September 2014, v2.0 was named as one of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year.

In 2015, GoGo Penguin signed to Blue Note Records (France).^[12]

Discography

^[13]

References