Some of my favorite Brad Mehldau albums are produced in just this manner: a really strong three-piece (drums, bass, & piano) just crushing a live take with minimal overdubs. On “Fallowfield Loops,” GoGo Penguin have never sounded more dynamic, mixing modular synthesizers with a gorgeous acoustic piano to round out a circuitous high energy performance. Upcoming album Necessary Fictions is out June 20th via XXIM/Sony, and finds this Manchester trio hitting new heights with their blend of jazz, classical, and electronic inputs. The synths that play a large role in the sound of the new album were largely acquired during the Covid shutdown, with Chris plunging fully into that world. We are now reaping the benefits of that unique moment in time. Crisis will always provide ready fuel for the arts.

Many will say that an instrumental track, in comparison, necessarily fights an uphill battle against a song with lyrics to someone's attention. But I would counter that an instrumental track with sufficient dynamic range, once it pierces that initial resistance, can flourish in the mind of a listener, completely unfettered by semantic suggestion. “Fallowfield Loops” is that kind of track. The story it paints in your mind is made of pure imagination. It's gritty, organic, and just a little bit on the edge.

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Photo credit: Mark Gregson