Before I start this musical recount I would like to make a confession. I like Jazz, in fact I love it, but, up until my recent inauguration, I hadn’t seen any live. So, completely devoid of any live experience, I stood in the rather labyrinthian Hare and Hounds, Birmingham to await my initiation into this brave new world.

Citing Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and Four Tet as influences, it’s clear to see that GoGo Penguin aren’t going to be your average late night dinner party jazz sound. This Manchester trio has been receiving growing critical acclaim since their nomination for last  year’s Mercury Music Prize and their second album, V2.0, has picked up strong reviews in both the Jazz world and wider music press.

Before them, label mates Mammal Hands took to the stage early doors to warm the crowd. Their hypnotic saxophone driven tunes soon had the growing Birmingham crowd transfixed. From busking on the streets of Norwich in 2012, to releasing their debut album, Animalia, in 2014, you can see that this trio deserves a stage.

Jordan Smart’s impressive soprano and tenor saxophone cuts through well and soon becomes the centre piece of the band’s compelling presence. In addition, Jesse Barrett’s distinctive and percussive rhythms and Nick Smart’s Steve Reich-esque piano are equally as important to this developing sound. Although sounding some-what repetitious in their live set, perhaps more to do with the sequence of the set rather than overall sound, this is a trio that have validated in their debut album that they have the talent and musicianship to go along way. Fingers crossed for this.

A double bass is quite a majestic and beautiful instrument to behold but when played by Nick Blacka, accompanied by the piano of Chris Illingworth and the impressive and rather jaw-droppingly precise percussion of Rob Turner, it soon completes the sound of GoGo Penguin and, together, they make for quite a trio.

As soon as they came on to the stage, you could tell this was a group that was enjoying  their growing notability on the jazz scene. With a developing cultish celebrity fan base and a gold seal of approval from Giles Peterson, it wont be long until GoGo Penguin outgrow venues like this.

Throughout the night, the band moved through tracks from both albums and demonstrated the ability to captivate and engage an audience. At certain points in the set it appeared that all three musicians were entwined in some incredible onstage telepathy. And it is this meticulous musicianship that elevates them from their peers. Sometimes melodic and sweeping, sometimes with break neck speed and replicating a live version of Apex Twin, there was not one point in their set where GoGo Penguin didn’t look completely in control of their sound and presence on stage.

At certain moments in the set, when the tempo increased, the band’s electronic influences clearly came to realisation. Tunes like ‘Garden Dog Barbecue’, ‘One Percent’ and ‘Fanfares’, from their debut album of the same name, had the audience jumping, politely of course, it is, after all, jazz.

GoGo Penguin are a musical force to be reckoned with. With a faultless performances and an on stage telepathy that makes playing the most complicated, disjointed beats and rhythms look easy, this is a band that shouldn’t be reserved for small audiences. There are bigger days ahead I’m sure.

As I walk out into the Birmingham night air ready to head back down the motorway, I realise I am different. I have seen Jazz. I have witnessed it live and uncut. And, I am a better man for it.

Dan Smith

@medansmith