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Reviews Bido Lito! April 2015
Penguin modestly take up their instruments.
Opening with Ferg a new track, the trio
Ferg,
summon an unforgettable ambience, with
violin bows and brushes flitting around the
drum kit while the piano and double bass
create a dreamy ebb and flow, allowing the
crowd to settle into a brief meditative state
before they proceed with the rest of their
performance.
Murmuration follows, the opener to their
latest album V2.0, a culmination of ethereal
piano chords carried exquisitely by preciselyplaced ghost notes and the switching between
plucking and bowing of the double bass,
creating seemingly impossible layers with so
few instruments.
The bulk of the set is one that overwhelms
and inspires, taking each of us on an
interpretable journey. The tiptoeing, tinkling
piano of Break is beautifully pensive, while
In Amber and The Letter explore darker, more
ominous avenues, all offering the impending
ascension into an almost spiritual realm.
As the set progresses, it becomes apparent
that there can be no ‘frontman’ in GoGo Penguin.
The trio stand on equal ground forming a
meticulously complex unit, accounting for their
transcendent, atmospheric sound, a sound that
The Kazimier does great justice.
Last Words and Garden Dog BBQ see the
set judder to a frantic close with the trio’s
most playful, dance-infused numbers. Oddly
Gogo Penguin (James Tweedale / flickr.com/james_tweedale)
infectious basslines and hypnotising hi-hat
lifts expose the band’s ability to not only create
a truly original sound, but also to structure
songs in a way that displays immensely
technical jazz-infused ability, while remaining
wonderfully accessible.
An eagerly anticipated encore of Hopopono
leaves a perfect cadence resonating around
the venue, with a sense of astonishment that
three young musicians could offer such a
unique musical experience.
Matthew Wood
KATE TEMPEST
The Kazimier
KATE TEMPEST is an artist who has become
the talk of every trendy record store and coffee
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