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.
― walking towards the sun since 2007 (alex in mainhattan), Sunday, 29 December 2019 18:16 (four years ago) link
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
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Monday, 14 September 2020 19:46 (three years ago) link
Thank you!
― flappy bird, Monday, 14 September 2020 19:58 (three years ago) link
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?)
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 14 September 2020 20:23 (three years ago) link
An Arthur Russell cover, no less! This is nice.
― Paul Ponzi, Tuesday, 15 September 2020 00:02 (three years ago) link
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.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Tuesday, 15 September 2020 14:46 (three years ago) link
listening to the first album now and yeah: why did i pass on this record so many times? this is "where have you been all my life" kind of good.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 26 April 2021 04:17 (two years ago) link
absolutely! what a great vibe
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 26 April 2021 04:26 (two years ago) link
First 2 albums (Music from PCO and PCO respectivly) are both great. I was haunted by the cover of the 1st album way before hearing it. Gotta say I prefer the weird folk of the 2nd album to the more dreamy 1st but they both sound great on a Sunday morning.
― I have no couch and I must stream (NotEnough), Monday, 26 April 2021 16:47 (two years ago) link
the hiphop group i was in many years ago had a track where we sampled "telephone and rubberband" and somebody in the audience at one of our shows knew the sample and booed us and gave the double thumbs down. good times.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 26 April 2021 20:28 (two years ago) link
Austin where do you live that hiphop crowds are full of Penguin Cafe Orchestra fans
― frogbs, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 04:36 (two years ago) link
I guess if I'm gonna bump this thread I should comment on their music. what I really like is how casually brilliant they could be. that horn bit on "In the Back of a Taxi" is a good example. Its a goofy moment but its also perfect. Also I noticed "Heartwind" has a cowrite by Ryuichi Sakamoto...did they work together or did they borrow a melody?
― frogbs, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 04:44 (two years ago) link
It was in Reno, frogs. No idea who the guy was. We were playing on a benefit bill with all different types of bands, one of which was a group of aging old school punks playing semi-joke "pirate rock", so I've always assumed our heckler was someone from that lot.
The name of their band was Scurvy Bastards, by the way.
I love Penguin Cafe Orchestra, also by the way.
― please don't refer to me as (Austin), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 05:15 (two years ago) link
New Group Listening album is lovely: https://grouplistening.bandcamp.com/album/clarinet-piano-selected-works-vol-2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iDdqY-VEcg
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Friday, 18 February 2022 09:09 (two years ago) link
Bought Signs of Life on CD for a dollar today, first thing I've ever heard by them. Except for the last song, really like it--not sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. Favourite is "Oscar Tango."
― clemenza, Sunday, 3 September 2023 01:47 (six months ago) link
Wrong song: "Horns of the Bull."
― clemenza, Sunday, 3 September 2023 04:09 (six months ago) link
I’d like to like the new Penguin Cafe line-up and recordings but it’s just not the same. The soul isn’t there. I follow their social media and see albums and recordings coming and going and wish I enjoyed it.
― afriendlypioneer, Sunday, 3 September 2023 13:32 (six months ago) link
I really cherish PCO. That’s all.