GoGo Penguin Shortlisted for Mercury Prize

GoGo Penguin’s second album, v2.0, has been shortlisted as one of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year for 2014.

The album, which follows the trio’s critically acclaimed début offering, Fanfares, is one of 12 to be nominated for the prestigious award, sitting alongside works by Damon Albarn, Bombay Bicycle Club, Anna Calvi, East India Youth, FKA twigs, Jungle, Nick Mulvey, Polar Bear, Royal Blood, Kate Tempest, and Young Fathers.

Simon Frith, Chair of Judges, said: ‘The 2014 Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist confirms that these are fascinating times for UK music.

‘There are seven outstanding début albums here, and five records by more established artists, all pursuing exciting new directions. What most impressed the judges was the inventive passion with which musicians explore music and emotional possibilities, refusing to be pinned down by rules or genre.’

Comprising alumni Chris Illingworth (piano, 2007) and Rob Turner (percussion, 2005), and double bassist Nick Blacka, Manchester-based GoGo Penguin is fast becoming one of the UK’s leading jazz ensembles, selected in 2013 as The Times’ ‘New Faces’ to look out for in the arts.

Talking of the nomination, Chris said: ‘It’s been a very surreal and incredible experience and has blown us away to be nominated as one of the 12 Mercury Prize albums of the year.’

v2.0 was produced by Joseph Reiser and Brendan Williams and recorded in Manchester and Powys. It was released in March on Gondwana Records. To learn more visit www.gogopenguin.co.uk

Picture caption: GoGo Penguin (l-r Rob Turner, Nick Blacka and Chris Illingworth) with their Mercury Prize nomination.

In April 2015 GoGo Penguin signed to Blue Note Records (France). 

Click here to view their performance on Later with Jools Holland

11 September 2014