GoGo Penguin dropped the single “Kora” from their upcoming album.

GoGo Penguin dropped the single “Kora” from their upcoming album. Band’s new album will be released on the 5th of June via Blue Note Records. It’s their sixth full-length and third for Blue Note. They recorded previously for Gondwana Records.

Chris Illingworth explains the inspiration behind the song: “There’s a guy who often sits in Piccadilly Gardens, day after day, who plays the kora (an African stringed instrument) for hours. It’s an incredible sound. Considering how loud and chaotic it can be around there, you can hear his music so clearly. 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”.

Listen to GoGo Penguin single “Kora” from the album “Gogo Penguin” below:

GoGo Penguin have been hailed as the “Radiohead of British Jazz”, but they draw equally on rock, jazz and minimalist influences, alongside the intricacy of Aphex Twin or Four Tet to create their punchy, experimental, but always beautiful music.

GoGo Penguin’s 2014 album "v2.0" (Gondwana Records) was named a Mercury Prize album of the year alongside albums from Damon Albarn, Young Fathers and Jungle. In 2015 they signed to Blue Note Records and released the albums "Man Made Object" in 2016 and A "Humdrum Star" in 2018. Their EP, "Ocean in a Drop (Music for Film)" was released in October 2019 and their new album "GoGo Penguin" will be released on 5th of June 2020.

Watch GoGo Penguin single “Kora” from the album “Gogo Penguin” below: