Chris Illingworth (pno); Nick Blacka (bs); Rob Turner (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Penguin play Sage Gateshead on Thursday (Feb. 18) and, although I left it too late to apply for a review ticket (boo! hoo!) this CD makes up for it.
One of the most original UK piano trios to appear in recent years, the Manchester band have established an identity that enables them to stand out from similar groups - if indeed there are similar groups which I doubt.
To give you an indication of the diversity of GGP's approach we have a track inspired by the simple image of sunlight streaming through the clouds (that must be a major event in Manchester!). Another one is based around a stray cat (presumably feline) wailing one night. Then there is some hypnotic minimalism and a song inspired by the Hindu idea of sleep demons. are you still with me?
There's more. Chris dampens the strings on his piano with kitchen roll to replicate the sound of a synth!
Now this may sound like a lot of pretentious codswallop which it is, to me, although others may find deep meaning within the fishy beer. However, if you ignore all the bullshit, the music is actually very good!
Lance.
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