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A Humdrum Star
by
A Humdrum Star Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth full-length release for the Manchester-based jazz trio features elements of electronic music.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 22, 2018
    90
    A Humdrum Star is a stunning piece of music making, and almost certainly GoGo Penguin’s best work.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Feb 9, 2018
    80
    Overall, A Humdrum Star is GoGo Penguin’s most cohesive, pleasing record to date.
  3. AllMusic
    Feb 9, 2018
    80
    The band purportedly balance their compositional process between writing songs on their instruments and utilizing electronic production programs that they then translate to live instrumentation. As a result, these songs have the wave-like flow of electronic dance tracks but with the expansive, acoustic atmosphere of classic ECM recordings.
  4. Record Collector
    Feb 14, 2018
    80
    Chris Illingworth’s glistening piano is glacial yet strong and majestic, elegantly floating above the turbulence created by Nick Blacka’s throbbing bass and Rob Turner’s kinetic, febrile drums.
  5. Clash Music
    Feb 20, 2018
    80
    A Humdrum Star feels like a step beyond the precious experiments of their opening records, a concise and complete statement that defies categorisation and reinforces the vitality of UK jazz at this moment.
  6. The 405
    Feb 13, 2018
    75
    A Humdrum Star is largely successful and in a perfect world will be just one of a great many formal experiments for the band.
  7. Q Magazine
    Feb 9, 2018
    60
    Their latest is in constant motion. [Mar 2018, p.108]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. RPF
    Dec 17, 2020
    9
    GoGo Penguin's best album. Certainly the Radiohead of British Jazz! The standout for me is the drumming. it is perfection, incrediblyGoGo Penguin's best album. Certainly the Radiohead of British Jazz! The standout for me is the drumming. it is perfection, incredibly complicated beats joined by the incredible double bass playing. The musicianship of this band is incredible. This band have created an amazing hybrid in the musical space. Well done to them! Tracks that stand out: "Raven", "Window" and "Transient state"… Expand
  2. Ricko
    Jul 31, 2019
    8
    Incredibly easy to listen to and a record that you need to listen to rather than read about. At its best, "Humdrum Star" is sublime. "v2.0"Incredibly easy to listen to and a record that you need to listen to rather than read about. At its best, "Humdrum Star" is sublime. "v2.0" impressed me but I think this is a more ambitious record. "Raven", "Window" and "Bardo" are the standout tracks for me.… Expand

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