GoGo Penguin releases "Necessary Fictions"

Acclaimed Manchester-based trio GoGo Penguin are proud to release their highly anticipated new album Necessary Fictions, out now. This album marks a new and exciting chapter in the band's musical evolution, offering a bold, expansive exploration of identity, place, and transformation through deeply personal and cinematic soundscapes. The album lands alongside a stunning visual for new single Luminous Giants, which features Rakhi Singh and Manchester Collective.

With Necessary Fictions, GoGo Penguin—pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott—delve into new creative territory, combining their signature hybrid of jazz, electronic, and minimalist influences with new textures and emotional depth. Necessary Fictions sees the trio expanding their sonic palette with the inclusion of modular synths, field recordings, and guest collaborations. It is their most sonically adventurous and personal work to date.

The album reflects the band’s willingness to evolve, challenge themselves, and break free from old habits. “We wanted to get deeper to the essence of what we want our music to say,” explains Blacka. “We’ve really embraced what feels authentic for us right now, without worrying about what people expect from us.” The result is a collection of tracks that feel both daring and intimately grounded, showcasing GoGo Penguin's confidence and creative vision.

One of the most notable developments on Necessary Fictions is the band’s collaboration with guest musicians, marking a first for GoGo Penguin. The album features the eight-piece string ensemble, the Manchester Collective, with violinist Rakhi Singh contributing to the tracks Luminous Giants and State of Flux. The band also invited singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko to feature on the track Forgive the Damages, marking the first time a vocal has been included in GoGo Penguin's recordings. “This was the moment we felt truly ready to collaborate,” says Illingworth. “It felt natural and essential for the album.”

Necessary Fictions brings together a mix of striking acoustic textures and experimental electronics. The album’s centerpiece is the deeply cinematic track Naga Ghost, which shifts from delicate acoustic instrumentation into bold electronic territory, before being mirrored in Silence Speaks, where the music transitions from synthesizers back into acoustic elements. These two tracks bookend the album, highlighting the band's newfound confidence in their creative vision.

Throughout the album, GoGo Penguin’s fusion of genres is explored with fresh intensity. Tracks like What We Are and What We Are Meant to Be embody a simplicity and melodic clarity that contrasts with the complex textures of previous albums. “We were hesitant in the past, questioning whether we were living up to our ‘jazz’ label,” says Blacka. “But now, we feel free to make music that feels true to us, regardless of genre.” This shift in mindset is also reflected in the album's title, Necessary Fictions, which is inspired by the concept of the "shadow self" explored in the book The Middle Passageby James Hollis. The title evokes the band’s journey of self-discovery, embracing both the parts of themselves they’ve hidden away and the process of redefining their identity.

The album’s opener, Umbra, sets the tone with a blend of lush synths and piano, drawing the listener into the band’s new sonic world. Meanwhile, Living Bricks in Dead Mortar explores themes of decay and renewal, while Luminous Giantschannels the awe and majesty of nature, inspired by a moment the band shared while walking through the redwood forests of the Pacific Northwest. The emotional depth of these tracks, combined with their sonic exploration, makes Necessary Fictions a powerful and multifaceted release.

In addition to the guest contributions, the album’s production process also represents a significant step forward for GoGo Penguin. The band spent much of 2024 recording at their own studio in Manchester, creating an environment that was as much about creative freedom as it was about physical space. “It was about making the studio feel like a place we wanted to be,” says Blacka. “We wanted to feel inspired and free, and it became our place of expression.” This environment allowed the trio to experiment with new sounds, including modular synths, and to work on the music with a sense of joy and excitement.

After a period of personal and professional upheaval, including the departure of their founding drummer and the loss of close family members, Necessary Fictions represents a triumphant moment of renewal for GoGo Penguin. The trio has emerged from these challenges with a renewed sense of purpose, and the album reflects their journey of personal growth, both as individuals and as a band. Necessary Fictions is not just a collection of songs; it’s a powerful statement about who GoGo Penguin are now and where they are going next.

“Making this album felt different,” says Illingworth. “I was smiling in the studio a lot, and I’m still smiling now thinking about it. I hope that energy translates to people.” The result is an album that is as much about exploration as it is about personal connection—a celebration of where the band has been and where they’re headed.

NECESSARY FICTIONS – TRACKLIST

1. Umbra
2. Fallowfield Loops
3. Forgive the Damages (feat. Daudi Matsiko)
4. What We Are and What We Are Meant to Be
5. Background Hiss Reminds Me of Rain
6. The Turn Within
7. Living Bricks in Dead Mortar
8. Naga Ghost
9. Luminous Giants (feat. Rakhi Singh and Manchester Collective)
10. Float (Loi Krathong, 2003)
11. State of Flux (feat. Manchester Collective)
12. Silence Speaks

GoGo Penguin’s Necessary Fictions is an album about transformation, authenticity, and the courage to break free from the past. It’s the sound of a band that has embraced change, ventured into new sonic territory, and found joy in the process of discovery. With their latest release, GoGo Penguin proves that they are a band that thrives on evolution, making music that is as inventive as it is heartfelt. Necessary Fictions is an exciting new chapter in their journey—one that fans old and new will not want to miss.