Tom Penaguin – Tom Penaguin (Amarxe, 2024)
Tom Penaguin, a multi-instrumentalist and composer from France, rolled out his remarkable eponymous debut album, Tom Penaguin, earlier this month. Finely crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the sublime progressive rock music presented in this album mirrors the intricate style of National Health, Egg, and Hatfield and the North. Serving as a heartfelt homage to the Canterbury sound, Penaguin exhibits his virtuosity by handling all keyboards, drum, bass, and guitar duties with remarkable skill and finesse.
Each composition within the album strikes a delicate balance between tranquility and continuous progress and intensity, seamlessly weaving together timeless melodies with contemporary flair to create a cohesive and deeply captivating musical experience. Catering to aficionados of the iconic Canterbury scene, this masterpiece offers an enchanting journey that captivates from start to finish.
Track 1, “The Stove Viewpoint Introduction,” derives its inspiration from a tape collage, primarily composed of sounds recorded in a shared household. The amalgamation includes altered playback speeds, resulting in pitch modifications. Notable elements include slowed glassware, kitchen laughter, echoed flute, and canine sounds.
The lengthy “Housefly Leg,” potentially the oldest track, originated from recordings on a Tascam MSR16 tape recorder in December 2020. Subsequent modifications, including the introduction of a Fender Rhodes MK2 and computer-based recording, enhanced the composition while preserving the essence of the original organ and guitar solos.
The humorously, self-explanatory, “Aborted Long Piece no2” aimed to occupy an entire side of the album with minimal instrumentation and asymmetric rhythms but fell short, comprising only three and a half minutes.
“Arrival of the Great Hedgehog” presents a vital compositional style, transitioning from a gentle start to a robust finish, punctuated by an extensive guitar solo over a fluctuating chord progression.
The last piece, “The Stove Packed up and Left” integrates a theme from 2018 seamlessly, amid multiple attempts to incorporate earlier compositions. It culminates in a tape collage of bird recordings from the artist’s garden.
Penaguin’s decade-long endeavor culminated in a stellar album that embodies his musical vision, overcoming previous limitations in knowledge and equipment.
Tom Penaguin, guitarist for Djiin and former keyboardist of Orgöne, started playing guitar at 6 and mastered drums, piano, and organ by age 15. Influenced by Frank Zappa and the Canterbury Scene, Tom established an analog music studio at home in 2020. There, he utilized various vintage studio hardware to record his debut album, Tom Penaguin.
Gear used: Fender Rhodes MK2, Cembalet II, Yamaha YC20, Hohner Pianet T, Hohner String Melody, Moog Matriarch, Squier Precision bass, Yamaha Rydeen drum kit. Goya Rangemaster on track 1 and 2. Gibson SG on track 4. Gibson Les Paul Goldtop on track 5.
With its serpentine, enigmatic yet accessible, joyful, and elegant compositions, Tom Penaguin is a must-listen for Canterbury music enthusiasts seeking both innovation and tradition.
Buy Tom Penaguin.