Tuesday Tracks: GoGo Penguin, Shura, Loaded Honey

Gogo Penguin

Gogo Penguin, courtesy.

In this week’s edition, GoGo Penguin and Theo Croker deliver classic jazz energy. Also, we connect with our feelings thanks to Shura and Austin Gatus, while Caroline the band and Caroline Polachek offer a nostalgic tune, and Patrick Wolf takes us on an adventure.



Patrick Wolf, “Hymn of the Haar” —  I was first pulled in by the enchanting intro of “Hymn of the Haar”— with its mythical-sounding violin lines and soft percussion. The song sounds like something from “Game of Thrones” or “The Sandman.” It feels fictitious but is inspired by the very real history and geography of the White Cliffs of Dover in England. The British musician sonically paints this mythical place. From his seventh album, Crying The Neck, the song sounds like folklore leading you, willingly, into a rabbit hole.

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Shura, “World’s Worst Girlfriend” — From upcoming album I Got Too Sad For My Friends, this is a synth-pop banger that taps into those intrusive thoughts most girlfriends would never say out loud (myself included). “I said that we’d go out for dinner this week/ That we’d go somewhere you chose/ But now I’m home, I just wanna go sleep.” Girl, same! Shura’s latest is fun and quirky and describes another less-explored side of girlhood.



Caroline featuring Caroline Polachek, “Tell me I never knew that ” — A collaboration between the London band and the former Chairlift-cofounder-turned-solo-artist, this is a nostalgic fusion of post-rock and alt-rock that describes a moment in human existence. It feels like a back-and-forth between thoughts. Though the song has no chorus or bridge, I enjoyed how it builds up, opening with soothing harmonies, then gradually building up into sonic chaos. It’s sad, yet hopeful, fun, yet somber. From the band’s sophomore album, Caroline 2 (out May 30), “Tell me I never knew that” describes feelings you just can’t explain.

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Theo Croker featuring D’LEAU, “We still wanna dance” — The first time I heard Theo Croker was through NPR’s Tiny Desk performances, and I remember being in awe at how effortlessly he used jazz to create new sounds and moods. Two years later, Croker is still bending genres, creating an out-of-body experience without words. From upcoming album Dream Manifest, the Grammy-nominated musician takes listeners into another dimension on this trippy, futuristic jazzy bop.



Loaded Honey, “Don’t Speak” — From Jungle’s Lydia Kitto on vocals and J Lloyd on production, “Don’t Speak” feels like a warm Sunday morning. It gives off Motown vibes, with soul, harmonies with a beat that’ll have you bopping from start to finish. The single is from their upcoming album, Love Made Trees, coming out on June 6. I love how the song sounds nothing like their other single, “Lessons,” making me super excited to hear the whole project.

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Austin Gatus featuring Sophia James, “Don’t Want This to Change” — Paired with jazzy undertones, Austin Gatus and Sophia James deliver heart-melting vocals that would have anyone swooning on this retro-sounding ballad that sounds straight out of the late ’70s or early ’80s thanks to Gatus’ light saxophone melody.



GoGo Penguin, “Fallowfield Loops”— The beauty about this Manchester trio is its ability to produce its own tailored sound, blending jazz and classical music to create a cinematic contemporary piece that reflects the times. With Chris Illingworth on piano, Nick Blacka on bass and Jon Scott on drums, “Fallowfield Loops” feels like coming up for air after being cooped up. The piano is breezy while the bass carries the song, leading listeners into serenity. The song is from their upcoming album, Necessary Fictions. The band says in a statement that “this is an album of ambitious fresh developments” in which it’s excited to explore and have fun. You can definitely hear that in “Fallowfield Loops.”



Dumi’s pick: I’m a sucker for music that teleports me to a new realm I’ve never visited before. GoGo Penguin gives me that feeling now. “Fallowfield Loops” makes me want to start over somewhere unknown and leave everything behind.

Follow Dumisani Mnisi at Twitter.com/nairobi_1899 and Instagram.com/nairobi_1899.

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