French multi-instrumentalist Tom Penaguin (Djiin, Orgöne) released his self-titled debut album on April 05, 2024 via áMARXE Records. Containing five tracks, including an epic over 14 minutes long, it was entirely composed, played and mixed by the artist himself. The genre on offer is a Canterbury Scene blend steeped in Experimental, R.I.O., Progressive and more, exploring retro sounds with a modern and personal edge. The album opens with the shortest track in duration “The Stove Viewpoint Introduction,” an instrumental intro full of electronic effects and modulations that leads us into the listening experience. Here we come to the epic track “Housefly Leg,” which exceeds 14 minutes in duration and links up with the previous one by evolving its final melodies. Tom immediately demonstrates his compositional and performing technique through elaborate textures and refined sounds with a 70s imprint. The tempo changes and variations on the song’s central theme are a real asset to the sound, which is technical and complex but always accessible to the listener. A pleasant dip into the sounds of the purest Canterbury Scene with refined solo inserts and those Jazzy twists and turns that distinguish the genre. Skilled the artist to develop through the long duration of the piece interweaves and musical harmonies of absolute value, bringing the classic sounds into a fresh and modern context while keeping the intensity always very high. “Aborted Long Piece No2” is another shorter track, still running over three minutes and continuing to explore the Canterbury Scene sounds in their most progressive version. Hypnotic melodies with a very technical and elaborate rhythm, a killer bassline and refined keyboard and guitar interventions in both solos and melodies. An introductory keyboard part with enveloping atmospheric traits characterises “Arrival Of The Great Hedgehog,” another long track exceeding nine minutes in length. Here the artist explores the R.I.O. nuances of his musical background, between virtuosity and a technical but softer sound. The track is complex and the intensity increases as the minutes go by, incorporating elements of Jazz with the guitar playing the lead role in a very incisive and technical extended solo. An interweaving of keyboards characterises the final track “The Stove Packed Up And Left,” 7 minutes in which the artist ranges across the genres that characterise his style. The rhythm section is full of tempo changes, moving from more energetic moments to openings with more Jazzy traits, a deep, load-bearing bass line. forays into Progressive and the usual inserts take the sound to another level, concluding the tracklist with quality. To hear a Canterbury Scene album in 2024 of such a high standard is always a pleasure, and in this Tom was truly excellent in bringing these sounds into a fresh and modern context. A tracklist that keeps the intensity very high from start to finish, letting us explore all the rich sf
Tracklist
01. The Stove Viewpoint Introduction (2:44)
02. Housefly Leg (14:25)
03. Aborted Long Piece No2 (3:35)
04. Arrival Of The Great Hedgehog (9:16)
05. The Stove Packed Up And Left (7:29)
Lineup
Composed, Played, Recorded and Mixed by Tom Penaguin (Djiin, Orgöne)
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