Weekly Penguin

Weekly Penguin 817

Timely Weekly Penguin – and the last of penguin-themed albums for a while. You guessed it, GoGo Penguin's brand new Everything Is Going to Be OK.

The latest album from the group I've in the past dubbed 'organic electronic' is in more ways than one a departure to what came before – and in many ways a new beginning of sorts. For one, this is the first album without the founding member Rob Turner on the drums. Considering the heavy break-beat drive of the whole group, I have to admit I was a bit anxious about this, but the new penguin Jon Scott is great as well.

This is also the first non-remix album to break away from not only sticking strictly to the trio of piano, drums and double-bass, but instead adding more instruments to the mix – including a bass guitar, synths and electronic effects. Considering the sound of GoGo Penguin has always been a stones toss away from electronica this isn't as big of a leap.

Even though I originally gravitated towards the band thanks to – in addition to their name – their 'organic electronic' approach, I do like the addition of electronics quite a lot. The focus is still on the core trio of instruments, but the added effects and synths are subtle – think less Giorgio Moroder and more Philip Glass. It adds to the a layer of otherwordliness and also blurs the line of 'electronic' and 'organic' even further.

Coming to think of it, in that sense it is much akin to the comparison between Simon Jeffes' Penguin Cafe Orchestra and Arthur Jeffes' Penguin Cafe.

Like the title suggests, the album is very feel-good, with the more melancholic parts being replaced by more dreamy soundscapes. Even though my life experiences and internal pessimism make me not believe in the album's title, it is good to know there's at least this tiny inspirational piece of sonic art to rely on when feeling down and out.

So yes, I recommend the latest GoGo Penguin album. It is available basically everywhere where music is sold – and in all formats besides C-tapes.

Added: 2023-04-18