No matter with how much virtuosity the rest of the band masters their instruments, a good drummer is and remains the be-all and end-all of a great band. GoGo Penguin have also taken this to heart and, following the departure of Rob Turner, have found a more than adequate replacement on drums in Jon Scott for their fifth album. This is not the only reason why »Everything Is Going to Be OK«, their début on XXIM Records, heralds a kind of new beginning.
Their electronic-acoustic compositions remain entirely focused on piano melodies, supported only by the double bass and purely instrumental in the interplay between electronica and neo-classical. However, it is quite remarkable how imaginatively and variably the 13 new songs are interpreted rhythmically, without the percussion pushing itself too much into the foreground. »Glimmerings« has a jazzy feel to it, on »Soon Comes Night«, Scott is more geared towards electronic beats, and the title track echoes the post-rock of the late nineties.
The velvety bass lines and the anthemic piano riffs are naturally just as important for the catchy and simultaneously sophisticated sound of GoGo Penguin. After all, this British trio is one of the most successful instrumental bands of the present day on its old Blue Note label, even without Jon Scott. The new drummer deserves special praise, nevertheless.
