Not only does it take special skills to play a variety of genres within a single song, but to make it work is a challenge in itself. Yet Emperor Penguin is capable of such a task, and the London, England band‘s latest album – Soak Up the Gravy, from Kool Kat Musik – is proof in the plum pudding they have mastered their mission in full force.
Smothered in sheets of nerve-jangling chords, “Hello Picasso” initially comes off as a rowdy power popper before lowering the tempo and entering a vortex of foggy-brained, Pink Floyd-inspired flashbacks. A reverence for psychedelia also arrives on the shimmering surge of “Burning Man,” where “Katie’s Only Trending” rushes forth with lightning-speed punk styled licks, followed by weird and whirling time changes.
Echoes of Traffic’s 1967 favorite “Hole In My Shoe” are heard on “Hole In Your Soul,” which contains a similar paisley-flavored bubble-gummy essence. “Speedball Blue” plugs in as a soothing jazz piece, and “Go Guitargonauts” delivers an explosive cocktail of quirky surf riffs, a howling chorus and bobbing rhythms.
Progressive vision aside, Emperor Penguin actually never wanders too far from their pop origins. The band totes a talent for striking harmonies and beady-eyed hooks that regularly reference the likes of the Kinks, Big Star, XTC, Electric Light Orchestra and even the Bay City Rollers.
Unique and exciting, Soak Up the Gravy pushes the envelope in all the proper places. Here’s an album that offers something for everybody.
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