“SYNTH ACT OF THE YEAR 2010” (Hot Press)

Bonded by influences from Kraftwerk to David Lynch movies to walking through Autumnal London and much besides Electric Penguins formed amidst a mutual love of vintage instruments, prog-rock and 70’s electro legends. The group (formerly a 3-piece, now a duo) released their debut album in 2007 to substantial press acclaim and promising radio support.

The current line up of Paul Murphy and Mark Cummins create music which is ambient, cinematic, folksy, electro and rich in conceptual depth.

Critical praise for the group’s second album entitled “II”, has come in the form of plentiful airplay from national tastemakers such as 2FM’s influential Dan Hegarty, Newstalk’s Tom Dunne, Today FM’s Paul McLoone and Dublin’s indie station Phantom FM. Indeed “II” was among Dan Hegarty’s Top 10 albums of 2010. Lead single “Highgate Hill” has delighted media and muso alike.

The Penguins talents can also be heard this February on Channel 4’s Bobcom Live Music Sessions series. The pioneering independent music website charged Electric Penguins with composing and recording its ‘score’ and incidental stings.

As their performances supporting the mighty Devo, Annuals, French artist Sebestian Tellier & krautrock legends Roedelius will attest they are very much a live band.

“They led the audience through a delightful soundscape, lit up superbly by angelic vocals and magical lyrics. Splicing together bits of Kraftwerk, Laurie Anderson, Sigur Ros, The Postal Service, Pink Floyd, Alison Moyet and Brian Eno with old English folk ballads the band weave a remarkably rich audio tapestry”
(Adrienne Murphy - Hot Press)

In addition to widespread domestic critical acclaim, Nic Harcourt has also supported Electric Penguins on his highly influential Morning Becomes Eclectic programme on L.A’s KCRW Radio and UK trade mag Music Week featured the Penguins as a high point of Irish music scene talent on their recent sampler. Mark Cummins has formerly collaborated with Pink Floyd’s orchestral arranger Edward Shearmur and contributed to endeavours with Massive Attack cohort Gavin Wright. Paul Murphy is a Dublin based producer of various rock bands and composer of multiple tv and film projects.

The pair released “II” in Ireland digitally, on CD and super-deluxe double vinyl in October 2010.
The 12 track feast of psychedelic cuts slides dreamily between electronic, folk and ambient soundscapes with acoustic and club elements dispersed throughout the record. Whirly and trippy audio effects, vocoders, moogs, mellotrons, organs, deeply layered strings and naked pianos mash and mix to maximise melody. Amongst the delights featured are the folksy love song to London, "Highgate Hill" and the kraut-club inspired combo-track "Airships/Soundproof 45".

Press Support

"Synth Act Of 2010! ...the Penguins have an originality and almost androgynous vocal style that truly marks them out."
- Hot Press ****

"...they plunge the listener into an ice bath of cinematic moodscapes, half-whispered ballads and gauzy synth pop."
- MetroHerald ****

“…II is a beguilingly lovely collection, flitting between the thoughtful, avant-garde atmospherics of the 1970s German electronic revolution to ruminative songs, reminiscent of early Pink Floyd. From the cinematic scope of Minutes to the whimsical Julia Stephens, the duo’s attention to detail is obvious.”
- Irish Independent

“II is a really impressive album, it’s beautifully arranged, and listening to it you get the impression that you’re experiencing something very special."
- Oxygen.ie

"Electric Penguins wear their influences on their keyboards. The sonic cartography of 11 connects Kraut-rock with English pastoral, pop whimsey with a brooding psychedelia and bright ambient wallpaper with dancefloor beats."
- The Dubliner magazine

“The coolest band in Ireland today? We think so!” 7/10 – Hot Press

“Using Moog synthesizers and a myriad of vintage electronic equipment, this Dublin based trio has delivered a remarkable debut.” 4/5 – Irish Independent

“You’ll adore their melodic and majestic opus, influenced by pioneers such as Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk, Sigur Ros and Flaming Lips” 4/5 – The Star

“…what Bowie’s “Low” may have sounded like if he’d been on an ecstasy bender in Berlin instead of a recovering cocaine addict” – Totally Dublin