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Peng!
Peng!
Peng!
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Peng!
Studio album by
Stereolab
Released26 May 1992 (1992-05-26)
RecordedApril 1992
Genre
Length47:47
LabelToo Pure
Producer
  • Robbs
  • Stereolab
Stereolab chronology
Super-Electric
(1991) 		Peng!
(1992) 		Low Fi
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStar[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
Pitchfork4.8/10 (1995)[5]
7.5/10 (2019)[6]
Record CollectorStarStarStarStar[7]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarHalf star[8]
Spin Alternative Record Guide6/10[9]
Uncut7/10[10]

Peng! is the debut studio album by English-French band Stereolab.[11] It was released on 26 May 1992 by Too Pure in the United Kingdom.[12] The album was issued in the United States on 13 June 1995 by Too Pure and American Recordings.[13] A remastered edition of the album was released on 9 November 2018 by Too Pure and Beggars Arkive.[14]

The album's title (a German onomatopoeia for a loud pop or bang) and cover art are derived from a comic strip named "Der tödliche Finger" that appeared in a 1970 issue of Hotcha, a Swiss underground newspaper.[15] Different panels of the same strip were adapted into cover art for other early Stereolab releases, and remain popular icons for the band.

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Super Falling Star" 3:16
2."Orgiastic" 4:44
3."Peng! 33" 3:03
4."K-Stars" 4:04
5."Perversion" 5:01
6."You Little Shits" 3:25
7."The Seeming and the Meaning" 3:48
8."Mellotron" 2:47
9."Enivrez-vous"Charles Baudelaire3:51
10."Stomach Worm" 6:35
11."Surrealchemist" 7:13
Total length:47:47

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[16]

Stereolab

Production

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1992) Peak
position
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[17] 6

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Peng!

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Peng! is a children's card-based designed by Miriam Koser and published by HABA in 2014, in which 2 to 4 players aged 5 and older compete to guide colorful wooden figures attached to balloons across a modular track to the finish line first, using numbered route cards to advance while employing special "Peng!" cards to burst opponents' balloons and set them back. The game emphasizes light and interaction in a format, with lasting approximately 10-15 minutes per session. Players draw from a deck of 40 cards—comprising 24 numbered route cards (four each of numbers 1 through 6) for movement, eight "Peng!" cards for , and eight repair cards to replace lost balloons—and take turns playing one card to either propel their hedgehog forward, disrupt rivals, or recover from setbacks. Players are dealt three cards at the start and, after playing one card per turn, draw one new card to maintain a hand of three. The components include a three-part game board depicting a winding path, four hedgehog and balloon tokens in distinct colors, the card deck illustrated by artist Gabriela Silveira, and a rulebook supporting quick setup and play. Originally released in German as Stacheliges Igelrennen ("Spiky Hedgehog Race"), it has been translated into multiple languages for international distribution, appealing to young players through its whimsical theme of mischievous s and simple mechanics that introduce concepts like and timing without complex rules. Reception has been generally positive among families and educators for its engaging artwork and accessibility, earning a 6.1 out of 10 average rating on from 49 user ratings as of November 2025, though some note its reliance on luck from card draws can limit replayability for older children. No major awards are recorded, but it fits into HABA's lineup of award-winning and early elementary games focused on developmental skills like and basic planning.

Development

Peng! was designed by Miriam Koser and first published by the German toy and game company HABA in 2014. The game originated in under the title Stacheliges Igelrennen (translated as "Spiky Hedgehog Race"), emphasizing a playful racing mechanic with and balloons suitable for young children. HABA, founded in 1938 and known for high-quality educational toys, handled the production and distribution, with artwork provided by Gabriela Silveira. The game has been translated into multiple languages, including English as Peng!, to reach international markets, aligning with HABA's focus on , developmental games that promote skills like turn-taking and strategy.

Recording

Sessions

The recording sessions for Peng! occurred in March and April 1992 at Joe's Garage and Robbs' Studio in London. These sessions represented Stereolab's first effort on a full-length album following their initial EPs, Super 45 and Stunning Debut Album, and lasted approximately one month with an emphasis on preserving the band's live performance energy. As an independent debut on the small label Too Pure, the project faced constraints from a limited budget, resulting in efficient, quick takes during tracking. Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the band's primary songwriters, guided the arrangements throughout the process. Mixing was completed shortly after the tracking phase at Robbs' Studio, finalizing the album in preparation for its imminent release.

Production

Peng! was co-produced by the band and the independent engineer Robbs, who was primarily associated with projects and handled both production and engineering duties alongside Roger Askew. The album's sound was achieved through analog equipment, including Moog synthesizers and organs played by , combined with fuzzy guitars to create a raw, experimental texture that emphasized imperfections like off-beat solos and missed notes for an organic feel. Production focused on layering repetitive bass lines and drum patterns drawn from influences, with minimal overdubs to preserve a live, unpolished quality reminiscent of Neu!-style propulsion. In , basic mixing balanced Lætitia Sadier's vocals against the instrumental drone, with heavy editing avoided due to the album's rapid recording timeline in April 1992, which prioritized spontaneity over refinement.

Release

Commercial release

Peng! was first released in 2014 by the German publisher HABA as Stacheliges Igelrennen ("Spiky Race"), available in standard boxed format for 2-4 players. The game has been distributed internationally under the title Peng! in multiple languages, including English, French, and others, through HABA's global network to support family gaming markets. No major reissues or remasters are recorded as of 2025, with the original components remaining in production.

Promotion and artwork

The artwork for Peng! was created by illustrator Gabriela Silveira, featuring whimsical depictions of hedgehogs, balloons, and a colorful that enhance the game's playful theme. Promotion has focused on HABA's established channels for children's games, including retail partnerships with stores like Amazon and educational toy outlets, as well as online previews on sites like to highlight its quick-play family appeal. The game's integration into HABA's lineup of developmental games has driven word-of-mouth among parents and educators, without large-scale campaigns typical of indie board game releases.

Track listing and personnel

Track listing

All tracks on Peng! are written by and , except "Enivrez-vous", which features music composed by and lyrics adapted from .
No.TitleLength
1."Super Falling Star"3:16
2."Orgiastic"4:44
3."Peng! 33"3:03
4."K-Stars"4:04
5."Perversion"5:01
6."You Little Shits"3:25
7."The Seeming and the Meaning"5:00
8."Mellotron"2:45
9."Enivrez-vous"3:00
10."Japanese to English"3:51
11."Harvey's Nan Péro (Maldire)"4:25
The album's total length is 47:47. The 2018 remaster preserves the original track sequencing.

Personnel

The personnel for Peng! consisted of Stereolab's core lineup at the time: provided vocals and played , handled guitar, organ, and , Martin Kean performed on , and Joe Dilworth played drums. Production and engineering credits went to the Robb family—collectively credited as Robbs—including Bruce Robb, Dee Robb, and Joe Robb, who also served as producers and mixing engineers, with additional engineering by Roger Askew. No guest musicians contributed to the album. According to the liner notes, the album was published by Complete Music and recorded and mixed by the aforementioned production team in London during April 1992.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

Peng! has received generally positive feedback from families and educators for its simple mechanics, engaging theme, and high-quality components, making it suitable for young children learning turn-taking and basic strategy. On , it holds an average user rating of 6.1 out of 10 based on 49 ratings as of November 2025. Reviewers praise the whimsical hedgehog-and-balloon artwork by Gabriela Silveira and the quick 15-minute playtime, though some criticize the heavy reliance on luck from card draws, which may reduce appeal for children over age 8. No formal critic reviews from major outlets like are recorded, but it aligns with HABA's reputation for accessible preschool games.

Commercial performance

As a niche children's game from independent publisher HABA, Peng! has seen steady but limited distribution primarily through specialty toy stores, online retailers like Amazon, and educational suppliers since its 2014 release. The original German edition, Stacheliges Igelrennen, earned a 3.9 out of 5 rating from 36 Amazon.de customer reviews. International versions in English and other languages have maintained availability without charting on major sales lists, benefiting from HABA's focus on family gaming markets in and . No specific sales figures are publicly available, but its inclusion in HABA's catalog supports ongoing reprints and bundling with similar titles.

Legacy

Peng! contributes to HABA's lineup of award-winning games, emphasizing developmental skills like and social interaction through playful mechanics. While it has not won major awards itself, it exemplifies HABA's approach to introducing light to ages 5+, influencing similar balloon-themed or for young players. As of 2025, the game remains in print with no significant updates or expansions, sustaining its role in family gaming without broader cultural impact beyond educational contexts.
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