Penguin Cafe Orchestra - classic or dud?

This band and Miles Davis are the only artists I can tolerate when I recover from a bout of tinnitus.

Is there any chance this Red Book that's coming out will be any good? PCO are one of my all-time favorites, but I'm not sure whoever's running the show (is it Simon Jeffe's son) can carry the torch.

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/af/d2/57/afd257a20638f47f8d9d447a6627c4d1.jpg

I'm already underwhelmed by the album art.

I didn't know there was already an album by the reformed Penguin Cafe. I should've read this thread more closely. I'm apprehensive about listening to any of this because it seems to stick so close to someone Simon Jeffes' formula, which is an amazing thing but is it possible for someone else to come close? I mean, I love the formula; it's probably the greatest formula there ever was. I'm still searching for a group of musicians that make music that comes anywhere close to PCO's. It's transformative, imaginative, beautiful music, but it also seems like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.

I don't know if I want to listen to make-believe PCO is what I'm saying. Is the essence there??

Try North Sea Radio Orchestra!

There's also the Japanese band World Standard that has a lot of PCO-type music (with a more Caribbean feel) but their most PCO-like albums are very hard to find.

I have a World Standard + Moose Hill in my iTunes for some reason. I'm going to listen now.

i just started listening to this band! it is wonderful music!

I think the thing I love most about PCO is that when I first discovered them, I had a feeling what they'd sound like just based on the artwork and name. Is it right to say they're the kind of like the soundtrack to the most amazing dream you ever had but can't really remember?

That seems pretty fair to me.

I bought a record for $4 (Broadcasting from Home) just because I was amused by the name and artwork. One of the few times that's worked out!

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/af/d2/57/afd257a20638f47f8d9d447a6627c4d1.jpg http://www.metalkingdom.net/album/cover/d91/2268_budgie_bandolier.jpg

Yeah, I'm not at all feeling that artwork.

I'm assuming the one on the right is a Budgie album.

aye

Seems that PCO and Penguin Cafe and not exactly the same thing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_cafe

I haven't heard Penguin Cafe yet.

FUCKING CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE MUSIC GOD PLAYS IN HIS RUMPUS ROOM

Is it right to say they're the kind of like the soundtrack to the most amazing dream you ever had but can't really remember?

that's pretty close. I would have said it's the soundtrack of pure joy and creative energy... maybe like the most amazing dream you've ever had!

Have we polled these guys?

Has anyone heard the new one?

new one? how?

It's just "Penguin Cafe."

http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/penguin-cafe-red-book

i'm curious about it, but somehow i feel like the boundless beauty and joyfulness of PCO cannot be recreated so easily. maybe i'm wrong.

I hear you, and I think they missed the mark with their last album. IT's definitely not vintage PCO. I still have hope that his son can carry on his legacy, however.

Is it really PCO without Jeffes

I listened to the one that came out a couple years ago recently, and it definitely didn't have the same charm as the classic records. I think it's possible that someone could potentially recapture some of the magic. It seems to me that his son gets what made PCO wonderful, but he's just not there yet. The art on this new one leaves me wanting. That's for sure.

the cover art is an affront to the PCO legacy... but then again, if they had made it in the same vein, I would also have been offended ("how dare they!").

True. AllMusic credits say it's the same artist who did the old record sleeves.

^emily young: jeffes' partner of the time and mother of the current leader, i believe (also supposedly the emily of see emily play according to wiki). not sure if they've done any recording, but there were a bunch of ex-pco people playing live shows at one time under another name after a falling out of some type with jeffes jr.

I never would have suspected such a close link from Pink Floyd to the PCO! My fab discovery of the day.....

I heard about that group, no lime tangier.

Didn't know it was a result of discord, but I wondered why there was a splinter group.

Has anyone had a listen to The Red Book yet? I plan on giving it a whirl this weekend. I'm pretty tempted to purchase it just because it is the Penguin Cafe...

I listened to the 3 tracks on Spotify. They're kind of downers.

downers because they're bad or because they're sad songs?

Sad songs.

sometimes i think this is the prettiest thing i've ever heard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_L_eBLPejQ

Wiki says they supported Kraftwerk at the Roundhouse in 1976... oh man what a night that must have been.

My wife came out to this at our wedding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJsll2poz1E

I got misty eyed...

I had Bean Fields playing at my weddding!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AFOUK1HkEs

<3

also the live in rome take of this is really good. as is the whole thing!!

anyone who claims they dislike the music of PCO are lying

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aD4DFtG7L._SS400_.jpg

Wasn't this album cover adapted into "Eyes Wide Shut?"

Love this group. One of the sadder aspects of Jeffes death is that he and the band were so obscure (by design, really) that not a lot of people took notice.

Still haven't heard The Red Book. I do really like this new song, however:

http://boilerroom.tv/penguin-cafe-the-track-of-the-dull-sun/

CLASSIC OBVIOUSLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYUAud0C-2A

I’m super into Broadcasting From Home these days, might be my fave PCO now

The new Penguin Cafe album called Handfuls of Night is quite nice, calm, slow, slightly melancholic instrumental music with classical instruments. The Penguin Cafe is hosted by Arthur Jeffes, Simon Jeffes son.

If anyone is needing a PCO/gentle chamber music fix, this (2018) Group Listening record is doing it for me right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTM5c9WN1EY

Thank you!

Thanks, this is really good and does indeed hit the Penguin Cafe Orchestra vibe (though on first listen not with the same richness, but -- who does?)

An Arthur Russell cover, no less! This is nice.

I've listened to the album a few times over the last couple of days and aye, not quite in the same league as PCO but lovely all the same.