Taken from their forthcoming self-titled album, out on June 5th via legendary Jazz label Blue Note, Manchester’s Mercury Prize winning trio Gogo Penguin have released a new track, ‘Kora’, named after the remarkable African Stringed instrument.
Chris illingworth from the band, explains: ”People often ask us where we get our inspiration from when writing new music. The reality is you never know where it might come from, it’s best just to keep your eyes and ears open and then you’re ready for it. Kora is a good example of this. There’s a guy who often sits in Piccadilly Gardens, day after day, who plays the kora for hours. It’s an incredible sound. Considering how loud and chaotic it can be around there, you can hear his music so clearly. You’ll see people stop and watch for a while, it’s difficult not to as it’s so beautiful. I’ve tried approaching the piano in different ways like emulating synths or translating guitar patterns to the keyboard. Hearing this guy and other great kora players like Toumani Diabaté inspired me to try some kora patterns on the piano and this in turn became part of the inspiration for this track.”
The track has these delicious African styles added to the track, but strained through a Gogo Penguin filter, so it has elements of Jazz, post-rock included in it. There’s are epic highs and delicate lows, but its emotive and weary and melancholy and euphoric and brilliant.
Check it out, here
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