*****

There were no penguins in Gogo Penguin. Instead, there was a Mercury Prize-shortlisted trio consisting of Rob Turner, drums, Nick Blacka, double bass and Chris Illingworth, piano.

There was no band leader like in a traditional jazz ensemble. Rather, the motif was the leader and the players wove a strong narrative around that.

They also did not play their instruments in any traditional fashion either.

Many textures were created by finding different ways to attack their instruments. The double bass could have been arrested on suspicion of not being a double bass. The sounds that were created were unlike any double bass I’d heard before.

As well as texture, they had a huge dynamic range. Some of the delicate lower end sometimes got lost on the not-so-delicate audience who were still pumped by the rumbling bass and driving breakbeats from moments before.

Of the many musical influences they have, electronic music seemed to be the dominant one.

There were definite whisperings of trip hop and Roni Size-esque elements to be heard, making for accessible music.

The band were promoting a new album called Man Made Object.