Music From The Penguin Cafe

Fair play to the penguins. The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter is a masterpiece. On repeat since I heard it first. Listened to after my first Spanish class back + on the way to the Spanish bar in Montparnasse.

i guess i have penguin-related prejudices that i need to get over, because i was not expecting to like music from the penguin cafe nearly as much as i did. i wish i could physically swaddle myself in the beautiful, folky instrumentals on this album.

Interesting.

Много откачено но яко

lovely

So excited to see this favorite pop up here!

I enjoyed this quite a bit. I like ambient music, and I like electronic music, and this is clearly related to both. I found some of the material Eno-esque and so was amused to read the Wikipedia when I was giving this a second listen.

wait a god damn minute… I love this

Soothing Fender Twin guitar tones and violin. Top track: The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter

This is so outside of what I usually listen to. It is both fascinating and outside my comfort zone. It's growing on me though.

Weird, but fun. Of course Eno was involved.

-very difficult to describe -equal parts instrumental, choral, classical? -very peaceful, easy listening

Enjoyable. 4 stars

Solid

great instrumentals

Love this, v cinematic, feels like the score to a weird dream sequence.

This album was a real pleasant surprise for us. We assumed it would be standard classical fair, but actually the album takes you on a real journey and we enjoyed it a lot. Starting very cheerful and upbeat, before mellowing slightly, before later throwing in some slightly alien sounds, this whole album felt like an experience, and one we enjoyed. A real penguin cafe.

a little too strange

Interesting, never head of them, but I like it!

wtf is this lol

A total surprise! Had never even heard about this album before. But I enjoyed basically all of it. Felt a tad long. But honestly the mostly instrumental album was great. The few songs with vocals also worked for me. 4.5/5

How did they make an album about my parents fighting? Therapy session through sound...

I don't quite know how to explain this, but I think I had a bit of an out of body experience listening to this (do you think people say outer body experience instead of out-of-body? I do, but let's park that). It's quite ambient instrumental music, in the Eno style. But there's something about it that really does make you question the meaning of life, of music, of time and existence. And there aren't many albums that do that.

Pretty good for penguins

Dafür mach ich dieses Projekt. Musik finden, die man sonst nie rausgesucht hätte. Interessante Musik, einige Tracks haben mir richtig gut gefallen. Anderen waren leider etwas nervig. Trotzdem 4 Sterne für das kuriose Projekt

Weeeeeird. Exactly the weird stuff I like

Very aurally pleasing! Calling it great background music isn't fair because it does reward a listener for leaning in, but it is also great background music

Super cool album. Heel vreemd.

Music From The Penguin Cafe is a wonderfully eccentric and inviting debut that blends classical chamber music, folk, minimalism, and a gentle sense of humor into something that feels completely its own. Led by Simon Jeffes, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra crafts pieces that are intricate yet light on their feet, with arrangements that can be both playful and deeply moving. There is a warmth to the instrumentation that makes it instantly approachable, even when the structures lean toward the unconventional. The album shifts easily between moods, from the lilting charm of “Penguin Cafe Single” to the hypnotic patterns of “From the Colonies” and the more pastoral beauty of “Giles Farnaby’s Dream.” It never feels pretentious, even though it draws from highbrow influences, because it carries a sense of joy and curiosity throughout. It stands as a distinctive and quietly brilliant work that rewards close listening but can also simply wash over you as an uplifting, calming experience.

I liked this one. Good background music for working. Hard to categorize.

Very off the wall but still very enjoyable. You can tell this was a lot of fun to make 4*

Pretty good.

I had no idea what to expect from this, but I loved it. Pleasant, a little weird at times, my first experience with lo-fi orchestral music, and it blew me away. Made a perfect soundtrack for my afternoon at work. I also love the album cover, but I'm a sucker for anything penguin, and I love that they leaned into it on their albums covers. A solid 4 stars for me.

Pleasantly suprised. This is a new artist to me, and by the end of the day I had checked out a whole other album and was telling everyone about my new discovery. It's like slightly off-kilter night time radio 3.

What a weird and wonderful album this is. I first heard of Penguin Cafe Orchestra around ten years ago and I enjoyed this record a lot. It’s good for background music, but also rewards close listening with all kinds of soundscape subtleties.

This has some beautiful work on it. It also has some weird stuff on it that feels weird for the sake of weird. I will be coming back to a few tracks, but unfortunately not the whole thing. It was so close.

An interesting album with some nice instrumental tracks and some absolute chaotic ones as well. 7/10

How refreshing. I seemed to know half the melodies - no idea from where. Not something I’ll listen to everyday, but a pleasant enough thing for a change.

This was completely new to me and was very good, will recommend to some friends

This was amazing

This was definitely different than a lot of the list, but was pleasant. I think it could exist as a soundtrack to a whimsical video game about penguins.

**Music From The Penguin Cafe** by Penguin Cafe Orchestra, released in 1976, is a landmark album in the realm of experimental and avant-garde music. Conceived by Simon Jeffes and performed by a small ensemble including Helen Liebmann (cello), Gavyn Wright (violin), and Steve Nye (electric piano, mixing), the album stands out for its unique blend of styles and its serene, escapist atmosphere. Below is an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. ## Lyrics **Music From The Penguin Cafe** is predominantly instrumental. The album contains very few vocal passages, and those that exist are minimal and unconventional. For example, Emily Young contributes Nico-esque vocals on tracks like "Coronation" and "Milk," but these are more atmospheric than lyrical, serving as textural elements rather than vehicles for narrative or meaning[1][2]. The absence of traditional lyrics is a deliberate artistic choice, emphasizing the universality and abstraction of the music. This lack of lyrics invites listeners to project their own emotions and interpretations onto the compositions, making the album highly subjective and open-ended[3][2]. **Pros:** - The absence of lyrics allows the music to transcend language barriers and focus the listener on mood, texture, and melody. - Occasional vocalizations add to the avant-garde and experimental feel without detracting from the instrumental focus[1][2]. **Cons:** - Listeners seeking narrative or lyrical content may find the album lacking in this regard. - The sparse use of vocals can feel alienating or emotionally distant to some[2]. ## Music The musical content of **Music From The Penguin Cafe** is its most celebrated aspect. The album defies easy categorization, blending elements of jazz, classical, folk, ambient, world music, and pop into a sound that is both experimental and approachable[4][3][1]. The instrumentation is eclectic, featuring guitar, cuatro, ukulele, piano, bass, violin, dulcitone, harmonium, shakers, drums, ring modulator, rubber band, penny whistle, and more[4][5]. This diverse palette creates a rich, textured soundscape that is at once familiar and otherworldly. ### Key Tracks and Musical Features - **"Penguin Cafe Single"**: A jubilant, violin-driven piece that encapsulates the album's playful spirit and melodic inventiveness[3][1]. - **"The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and it Doesn't Matter"**: A poignant, minimalist composition with electric piano and cello, evoking a sense of bittersweet resignation[2]. - **"Giles Farnaby's Dream"**: Combines spinet and ukulele in a repetitive, foot-tapping mode, hinting at the more rhythmic and melodic direction the Orchestra would later pursue[2]. - **"Milk" and "Coronation"**: Feature Emily Young's ethereal vocals, adding a haunting, avant-garde touch to the album[1][2]. The music is characterized by: - **Minimal arrangements**: Pieces are often built around simple motifs, repeated and developed with subtle variations[4][3]. - **Childlike wonder**: Melodies are uplifting and innocent, creating a sense of freedom and escapism[4][3][1]. - **Avant-garde touches**: Occasional dissonance, improvisation, and unusual instrumentation push the boundaries of conventional chamber music[1][2]. **Pros:** - The fusion of genres and instruments creates a unique, instantly recognizable sound[4][3][5]. - The music is both calming and stimulating, suitable for focused listening or as background ambiance[6][4]. - Strong melodic content and inventive arrangements make the album accessible despite its experimental nature[6][4][1]. **Cons:** - Some tracks, especially the more avant-garde or improvisational ones, can feel unfocused or meandering[2]. - The lack of variety in tempo and dynamics may cause the album to blur together for some listeners[2]. ## Production Produced by Simon Jeffes and Steve Nye, the album was released on Brian Eno’s Obscure label, known for its commitment to experimental and ambient music[2]. The production values are intentionally understated, emphasizing clarity, warmth, and intimacy over studio polish. ### Production Characteristics - **Natural acoustics**: The recording captures the warmth of acoustic instruments, with minimal electronic processing[4][5]. - **Intimate soundstage**: The mix places the listener in close proximity to the performers, enhancing the sense of immediacy and presence[4][5]. - **Organic textures**: The use of unconventional instruments (e.g., rubber bands, ring modulators) adds character without overwhelming the core ensemble sound[4][5]. **Pros:** - The production enhances the album’s sense of place and atmosphere, making the “Penguin Cafe” feel real and inviting[4][3][5]. - The clarity and balance of the mix allow each instrument to shine, highlighting the ensemble’s interplay[4][5]. **Cons:** - Some may find the production too sparse or lo-fi, especially compared to later, more polished Penguin Cafe Orchestra releases[2]. - Occasional rough edges in the recording (e.g., imprecise playing, ambient noise) may detract from the listening experience for audiophiles[2]. ## Themes The central theme of **Music From The Penguin Cafe** is escapism—a retreat into a whimsical, imaginary world where the unconscious can roam free[4][3]. Simon Jeffes described the Penguin Cafe as a place of acceptance and present-moment living, free from fear or judgment[4]. The music embodies this ethos through its playful melodies, serene harmonies, and gentle rhythms. ### Thematic Elements - **Nostalgia and innocence**: The album evokes a sense of childlike wonder and longing for simpler times[4][3][5]. - **Alienation and comfort**: While the music can feel detached from reality, it also offers solace and a sense of belonging to those willing to enter its world[3][5]. - **Celebration of eccentricity**: The album embraces oddness and unpredictability, encouraging listeners to find joy in the unconventional[1][2]. **Pros:** - The thematic coherence makes the album more than just a collection of songs; it’s an immersive experience[4][3]. - The escapist quality provides a welcome respite from the stresses of everyday life[3][5]. **Cons:** - The abstract nature of the themes may leave some listeners cold or disconnected[2]. - The album’s whimsicality can verge on twee or precious, depending on personal taste[1][2]. ## Influence **Music From The Penguin Cafe** has had a significant impact on the development of experimental, ambient, and chamber pop music. Released at a time when punk and disco dominated the mainstream, the album stood apart for its gentle, genre-defying approach[3][1][7]. Its influence can be seen in the work of later artists who blend classical instrumentation with pop and world music sensibilities. ### Legacy - The album helped establish the Penguin Cafe Orchestra as pioneers of “ambient chamber music,” influencing acts like Michael Nyman, Yann Tiersen, and even elements of post-rock and neoclassical genres[4][3][5]. - Its use of non-traditional instruments and playful arrangements paved the way for greater experimentation in contemporary classical and popular music[4][5]. - The album remains a cult favorite, frequently cited as a classic of its genre and included in various “best of” lists[7][8]. ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |---------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | Unique blend of genres and instruments creates a distinctive sound | Lack of lyrics may alienate some listeners | | Calming, peaceful, and accessible despite its experimental nature | Some tracks feel unfocused or meandering | | Strong thematic coherence and escapist atmosphere | Sparse production may seem lo-fi or rough to some | | Inventive arrangements and memorable melodies | Abstract themes can feel emotionally distant | | Influential and ahead of its time | Whimsicality may not appeal to all tastes | ## Conclusion **Music From The Penguin Cafe** is a singular achievement in modern music—a work that combines avant-garde experimentation with melodic accessibility, and escapist fantasy with emotional depth. Its strengths lie in its imaginative instrumentation, serene atmosphere, and the sense of wonder it evokes. The album’s weaknesses are largely a matter of taste: its lack of lyrics, abstract themes, and occasional roughness may not suit everyone. However, for those willing to enter the Penguin Cafe, it offers a timeless refuge from the ordinary, and its influence continues to resonate in the worlds of ambient, classical, and experimental music.

I loved this. This album is a combination of beautiful and relaxing passages and weird and psychedelic moments, which adds a lot of dynamism to the whole record. It is not perfect, but still a great suprise and a nice experience.

Good stuff. Out there, yet listenable. Never heard of this bunch before and I'll probably dive into their oevre a bit more. Good entry on this list. This is what I'm here for.

Wow, you guys hate this less than I expected. More fun on paper than in practice to be fair. Eno's involvement sends it up a star. That's just who I am.

It took a bit of getting into, but I'm enjoying this. I didn't realise Eno was involved, it seems that his fingers are in many lovely pies. 4 stars I reckon. Although I might look back and think that after more listens it deserves more, there's been a couple of albums where that's been the case. It's a shame there's no edit button.

Ok, this is the type of weird shit that I want to see generated. I have never heard of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra in my life. Frankly, I thought this looked like a joke album. The name of the band and album cover alone warranted my attention. However, what I got was surprisingly substantial. This album is all over the place, and for the first time maybe ever, I mean that as a compliment. It’s beautiful (Sound of Someone You Love), it’s bizarre (Milk), it’s happy (Giles Farnaby’s Dream), it’s creepy (Pigtail). It’s weird, but in the best way. It’s not “lol random” weird or satirical weird or experimental weird. It’s a controlled weird that knows when to stay grounded and when to be wild. I won’t say this blew me away, but it genuinely impressed me. I feel like if more out of left field stuff like this was on this list, it would make it ten times better. Favorite track: The Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away And It Doesn’t Matter Other hits: Penguin Cafe Single, Chartered Flight, From the Colonies, Milk, Surface Tension, Giles Farnaby’s Dream

I'm a gigantic slut for weird shit and string sections. This is right up my alley.

Brilliant. Brings up a lot of thoughts about genre. When you're a very young child and you listen to music, you don't have any preconceived notions about "what kind of music" you're listening to. Rock, pop, jazz, whatever, you know it all simply as music. I'm leaving out "children's music", which is a thing, but not relevant and typically isn't really in the same world as, say, Aretha Franklin or The Beatles - both of which could be enjoyed by a child, whereas "children's music" is not for a general audience the same way. Likewise, nearly all the world's humans experience melody, rhythm, and the patterns in music in a similar way. I can listen to indigenous music from Africa and "get" it, or Asia, or British Folk... I can even play or sing along with music that doesn't come from my own cultural background, at least in a basic way. WHAT IS YOUR POINT? Penguin Cafe Orchestra brings my head to that place. It's just enjoyable music. When I was a kid I enjoyed Henry Mancini, Elton John, and Antonio Carlos Jobim equally. I still do! And I could put PCO in the same category, child or adult. It's all music. PCO has a surreal quality that all great music does, separating you from the rest of the (sometimes stupid, annoying) regular day-to-day world. There's a quality to the album that is playfully creative, layering instruments in unexpected but perfectly comfortable ways, degrading the simple droning riff then returning to it, abandoning rhythm altogether. The interplay between musicians, as a concept, is another thing PCO works with to expand their scope, beyond the everyday. Playing tightly together is a given in most music, letting the players explore the spaces between the notes or the space around those notes creates a humanistic atmosphere that is really rare. It's a bit more of a challenge to listen to. Worth investing what little of my mind is left in that challenge.

It was great for vibey music for work

Hahaha wat de fuck is dit nu weer voor een album? Echt, hoe vind je dit soort muziek? Maar heel eerlijk? Ik vind het stiekem heel erg vet. Ok, de Zopf nummers vind ik eigenlijk helemaal niets, maar dat is nog niet eens de helft van het album, ruim de helft is juist prachtige instrumentale experimentele muziek. Met loopjes die in je hoofd blijven zitten, ijzersterke instrumentale stukken, en verdomme ik ga niet liegen; ik werd bijna een beetje emotioneel tijdens The Sound of Someone You Love Is Going Away And It Doesn't Matter. En dat was zonder dat ik wist welk nummer ik aan het luisteren was? Er zit hier dus echt een ijzersterk ambient album in, ik zeg expres dus dat het er in zit; want Zopf is gewoon niet wat je wilt hebben. Althans niet wat ik wil hebben. Zo zonde, dat dat er tussen zit als een soort gekke hamburger waar de buitenkant, dus de broodjes, helemaal geweldig zijn en van een fantastisch hoog niveau. Maar dat de binnenkant, de burger, een gek experiment is dat soms wel geinig is maar het grootste deel gewoon niet zo goed. Weet ik veel, ik moet misschien gewoon maar wat gaan eten. FAVO: Peguin Cafe Single, Zopf: From the Colonies(UITZONDERING!) , The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter, Hugebaby, Chartered Flight

This is that good shit, baby, that pure uncut weird shit. I adore this album

Fav: Penguin Cafe Single Least Fav: Zopf: Milk Not bad for my 1 year anniversary for starting this challenge. I’m pretty far behind but I’ve enjoyed it a lot so far, so many genres and artists discovered. Looking forward to the rest

Their sound has the same kind of whimsical feel as Sufjan Stevens and I dig it. The Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away and it Doesn’t Matter was probably my favorite track.

Never heard of this before. Pretty interesting overall, not surprised that. Eno was involved. Nice listen.

Terrific opener. Ahhh, this is the good stuff. I didn't like every song, but still found the ones I didn't like much interesting

This is actually very cute. If not for some boring moments in a few of the songs, this could've potentially have been a 5

I have heard and loved the song "The Sound of Someone You Love..." I have good memories of walking around Seoul listening to it. I may have listened to the rest of the album at some point. The first song is pretty catchy. It's all really pleasant. I like the instrumentation in Giles Faraby's Dream. Sometimes it's nice to listen to something with very little percussion. Feels like a movie.

4, bello bello. Forse 5

Finally. I’ve been emailing and trying to reach out via under-utilized social media platform “Tout” asking about when we would get music performed by birds. We’ve had plenty of nerds, plenty of women (birds? Get it!?!), but now I need to get an avian worldview. Sometimes you’re the penguin waiter, and some days you’re the shaved penguin patron of the outdoor picnic sanctuary. Who am I? I am the ornithological enthusiast observing this historic meeting of the minds as no human has. Fly, o flightless. Reach for Penguin Cafe Single - Yeah I’ll take a single shot. If possible, could it not have fish juice in it? This cafe smells really bad. Also, can I get a penguin who didn’t just shit near the pile of mackerel bones to prepare the coffee? Thanks. This is a mix of classical music and a silent movie soundtrack. What have I gotten myself into here? It’s catchy and interesting. That works for me. Must be why this one was destined to be the chart topper. Zopf: From the Colonies - Oh HELL yeah. The penguins have banded together to invent flight. They have one of their penguin friends in a rudimentary apparatus. The first flight was a failure. Pick up the feathers and try again. Zopf: In a Sydney Motel - We’re talking Sydney Nova Scotia, I’m sure. Actually a really pretty song. Loving this. Maybe the blueprints are being drawn up in that Super 8 in Sydney Mines. An inconspicuous locale for such a noble effort. Zopf: Surface Tension - After weeks of planning and fitting. A few twisted wings, many feathers lost, but now, the best shot these black and white Wrights have. The smallest penguin in the colony, clad in aviation goggles stands atop the roof of the Super 8 in Sydney. Crude engines whir to life. Lift off. Evolution has been circumvented. The baristas of the Antarctic now have flight and while once a distant adversary, the sky is now another conquered sea bass, laid bare for exploration. Zopf: Milk - Those little vocal runs. This is insane in all the best ways. Twelve thumbs up. Zopf: Coronation - All hail the emperor cry the birds. Each now shaved in a specific pattern in order to accommodate the flying apparatus. Evolution be damned, the penguins have forced the hand of Darwin and now reign supreme over the skies. Today, Cape Breton, tomorrow, the world! Touch the sky my monochromatic compatriots, for tomorrow we are forever. Zopf: Giles Farnaby’s Dream - Giles awoke drenched in sweat. In his desk an unfinished manifesto and on the television, a penguin documentary. It was all a dream. “Maybe I should give flightless birds a chance,” he mutters aloud to himself. Giles flicks the television off and the crumpling of paper bookends the static-y hum of the motel television. Upon the crumpled page. Sentence fragments can be observed. BIRDS.. MEANT.. FLY. Giles hadn’t considered the dangers. Now, sleep came easily. All had been revealed. The Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away and It Doesn’t Matter - This is beautiful. I don’t even know what’s going on, but I’m entranced. This is when music baffles me. How can a mind conceive of this? A perfect coming together of infinite possibilities. Hugebaby - The duality of man. The soaring beauty grounded in melancholic humanity of the previous track, only to fade into a song called Hugebaby. Sometimes being human really is great. Another sweet moment on the record. Quieter, less enthralling but very listenable. Chartered Flight - A nice closer. Nothing mind-blowing but a sweet way to end. From the insanity of the first few tracks to the serene closing strains, this album was great. Totally unique in every sense of the word and a beautiful way to spend 45 minutes or so. I found this invigorated all the dumbest parts of my brain and caused a vomit of vocabulary that may or may not have made sense. Who cares at this point? Fittingly, the 199th album we review sits just shy of a round numbered milestone, but this was a revelation. More of this. 4-4.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Zopf: In a Sydney Motel, Zopf: Milk, The Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away and It Doesn’t Matter

Gentle

Surprisingly chill and feels like a Spiritualized vibe when it gets really orchestral, but you can tell its got Brian Eno's fingerprints on it

Wow! Thanks for sharing this music. Never heard of them. Great music, amazing sound.

Working to this album was a joy. Intricate and beautiful. Clearly an inspiration for one of my favorite artists, The Books

This is DEFINITELY what a cafe for/by penguins sounds like

Never heard of this, but I’m enjoying it. This album is really enjoyable. I think I recognized some of the songs.

There's a re-mastered version of this, as well as the one that's linked to *helpful face*. I think everything has been said already; a bit weird and wonderful, and not unenjoyable. Not a surprise to find Eno is involved! I'm not sure I'll be spinning it regularly but it held my attention.

i really liked this album in high school due to the brian eno connection (produced and put it out on his label!) its pretty cool and quite fun!

orchestras still feel like an untapped market somehow

I remember reading Raymond Tallis’ phenomenological excavation of the human head in “Kingdom of infinite space” maybe 15 years ago, where Tallis articulates the specific absurdity of spit; ok to swallow when it’s rolling around your mouth, but utterly wretched to conceive of repatriating once expectorated into a cup and left to sit for any duration of time at all. Evidently, some things – and some thoughts – should remain in the head they were born into. Thankfully, “Music From The Penguin Cafe” isn’t one of them. Simon Jeffe’s delightful album puts me in mind of the more contemporary Rachel’s. Both groups demonstrate common compositional sensibilities – not quite rock, enough to suggest it’s pop, folkish in attitude. And both – through a mix of imagination, craft and talent – are capable of inspiring a dozen emotions in as many minutes. It’s a joy to be inside the world of the Penguin Cafe; a tremendous feat of creativity that also feels like an analysis, through music, of the spontaneous joys and myriad diversions of a creative mind. And in so far as it really does – as Jeffe’s sort of said, and Fleur definitely did – sound like a tour of the inside of one’s head … it’s not too much to say that Penguin Cafe Orchestra do a job of reinforcing what’s so joyful about being human. A kingdom of infinite space, indeed. (Just keep the spit stuff to yourself.)

Þessi leynir á sér og vinnur vel á strax við aðra hlustun. Melódiskt á köflum og smá dissonance ofan í melódíuna, þrástef og skemmtilegar útsetningar. Lúmskt fallegt og áhugarvert.

I've long admired the music and mission of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra and am happy to hear it on this list.

There is a distinct lack of modern classical music on this list, so glad to see this included. I enjoyed it more and more as it went on.

Pastoral mini suites. Very lovely indeed.

Great orchestra! Feels very innovative, or at least very unique. Thoroughly enjoyed this album. I preferred the songs without vocals though. 4,5 stars

Really cool songs, Some are too weird for me though

Pleasant melodies. Didn’t know what to expect but enjoyed a few of these tracks for sure.

A weird and welcome avant garde-ish entry to this list. Many of the instrumentals here are awfully pretty, with guitar, an abundance of strings and mellow keys. When things turn experimental, it’s typically not for too long before returning to more normal/traditional territory. My only complaint is that some of the songs in the first half seem to end abruptly and aren’t really given enough space to breathe or unfold. Beyond that, Music From the Penguin Cafe is an excellent excursion into more intellectual musical territory and away from the standard popular music fare that dominates the list.

Liked it and found it relaxing. Saved to my collection.

The only bad thing I can say about this album is that it’s very much a first album, and they get better. But it’s still really good. And TIL who Giles Farnaby is.

I want to return to this album. Thought the ending of it was really great. Beginning was a bit slow, but maybe I’d appreciate it on a replay.

Fun and different ambient from stuff I usually listen to

What a fun album. It sounds like the music from Avatar the Last Airbender. I know I harp on experimental noise, but this album is just... awesome.

This was crazy! A little bit of Brian Eno, a little bit of early prog rock in that eleven-minute masterpiece. Scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had… love the weird experimental textures and beautiful musicianship working together in harmony.

this was great!

Very good, wanna visit the Penguin Cafe

like an acoustic eno. very refined, but still decadent.

Holy feck. Some parts of Zopf are absolutely insaneee. We’re back. Reminds me a bit of fishmans instrumentation in lushness and janky guitar sometimes, with this Hawaiian club penguin kind of tint to it. 4.5

what a weird and funny album! Dig it.

This album seems decades ahead of its time on certain tracks, then the next track will feel like something out of the 1950s. It's a bit arty and is largely instrumental, but overall it is quite good.

Whimsical, thoughtful and patient. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good string arrangement, but this was very pleasant.

Really enjoyed this. Catchy tunes without being twee….

A pleasant listen

beautiful and calming music destined to be featured in a movie

A strange but soothing album. I don't exactly know what it is, but it might be something I'll listen to again when I'm in a kind of zen need to relax mood. Or at least mostly soothing. It has some very strange breakdowns here and there, odd solos, strange instruments or sounds that come from I don't know what. But it works.

Penguins now. I'm almost at the end of my three-year stint with this app, and I would lie if I said that I am not a little exhausted by now. What can I say about this sometimes wonderful yet often downright *bizarre* record? That penguins are just as fascinating to watch as they are goofy? Of course, I'm only half-serious here. I had heard *about* this project promoted and executive produced by Brian Eno before. Something between chamber strings regalia, guitar arpeggios, Rhodes keyboards flourishes, lounge muzak, world, whiffs of musique concrete, avant-pop, contemporary minimalist compositions, beach ukuleles and Haydn / Renaissance-inspired strings and harpsichord. Or so I had heard. But hearing *about* one thing and listening to it will never be the same experience. I feel like penguins are currently staring at me in an inquisitive fashion just for stating the obvious here... Listening to the whole thing admittedly offered what that initial program promised, with "Penguin Café Single", "In A Sidney Motel", "Surface Tension" as the highlights of side one (the rest is generally charming as well, but rather secondary in comparison). And on side two, long smooth and airy instrumental "The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter" is the obvious centerpiece, of course. That one sums up the rest of the record, between its agreeable main theme, melancholic yet inviting, and its sudden atonal bridge betraying all the hidden turmoil behind the surface. After that, "Hugebaby" sounds rather mundane and even boring, but "Chartered Flight" brings back a little tension, thankfully. Quickly went through the rest of Simon Jeffes' band's eighties discography after that. The question is: why *this* album in Dimery's list, and not the eponymous one, *Broadcasting From Home*, or *Signs Of Life*? Those other LPs might sound a little less spontaneous or mysterious, and also less indebted to Eno's own transitory masterpieces between the rock and ambient idioms (*Another Green World* and *Before And After Science*). Yet those later albums also seem glossier, more cohesive within the scope of their loony fantasy soundscapes, and it looks like they have their fair share of gems as well, or so it seems. Sometimes this project of selecting a finite amount of albums is SO arbitrary. It's like all the penguins on the ice shelf that look like one another, and yet you want to save them all. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) Number of albums left to review: around thirty or twenty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book. Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 464 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 280 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 336

so beautiful and effortless……reminds me of a lot of contemporaneous british folk but also stuff like early brian eno! happy to have this in my rotation now

Really like having albums like this in a rotation for some nice background music

i enjoyed this a lot

I felt like I was listening to the London Philharmonic Orchestra: Cinema’s Greatest world tour album. It was pretty epic no lie.

I'd have a beer at the Penguin cafe!

Groooovy.. few weird sounds, as Julia would put it, but some noice background music for the work day

Why is there a naked half human on the cover? I like the music because it's pretty. The instrumental music is excellent. The melody is nice because it changes through the song instead of staying the same. There are interesting parts where the music changes and seems like completely different song. I recommend this album because it's really cool.

if you like orchestra music then you might like this album. I think this album sounds good but I think there should be more singing or something, I also don't really like the sudden beat drops at the end, the beat of the second song is pretty good it reminds me of El scorcho by weezer with the beat. the last song is good I like it, it has singing even though I can't really understand the words. overall I would recommend it.

How delightfully odd. I am not entirely sure what that was or who it is for, but I enjoyed it.

Pleasant, interesting and weird.

I love The Penguin Cafe Orchestra! Parts of this album are beautiful. They pepper in just enough "weirdness for the sake of weirdness" to keep me away from a perfect rating. Not sure if any of this has been in a Wes Anderson movie, but it very easily could be!

penguni pengunin penguininnin oiioioi

Execeptional album; complicated, textured and diverse melodies with lush atmospheric tonality. Its like interpretative and engaging exciting, melancholy and any other fancy vocabulary words I can muster. A fan of this for sure, and I'd like to experience this in high fidelity.

4/5. An interesting electronic album that feels so ahead of its time in 1976. You can hear it is inspired by Frank Zappa and Brian Eno but it still feels like it could have come out in the 90s or 2000s. And each song is diverse yet fits within the confines of the album. The latter half of much longer songs is the highlight, very beautiful arrangements and less electronic, more classical, yet doesn't feel out of place. Not sure what it has to do with penguins but it was still very nice to listen to. I would need to be in a mood for this, which does take away from masterpiece but still a very worthwhile listen. Best Song: Hugebaby, The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter, In A Sydney Motel

fun animal crossing music 4/5

"Music From The Penguin Cafe," at first glance, might seem like it has all the hallmarks of a dull and tedious album, with its minimalist compositions and unconventional arrangements. However, the experimental nature of the music is what truly captivates the listener, weaving a tapestry of sounds that evokes a range of emotions and curiosities. The delightful interplay of various instruments and the innovative merging of genres create an engaging experience that draws you in, transforming what could have been background noise into a fascinating auditory journey.

Album #768 (1001 challenge): "Music From The Penguin Cafe" by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra (1976) "Music From The Penguin Cafe" is the first studio album by English avant-garde band the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. The Wiki-listed genre is pop. Hmmm..if they added experimental and/or baroque I would agree. Brian Eno was the executive producer and the album was released on his experimental Obscure Label. The core members are Simon Jeffes (electric guitar, vocals bass, ukulele, cuatro, spine, electric piano, producer), Steve Nye (electric piano, producer, Helen Liebman (cello) and Gavyn Wight (violin, viola). Emily Young (vocals) and Neil Rennie (ukulele) join the core members on tracks 2 through 7 and the band is referred to as Zopf. Prancing strings and a melodic guitar and electric piano open the first song "Penguin Cafe Single." Wow, you can definitely hear the Eno influence. The song goes soft and builds again in this nice pop instrumental. Jeffes' vocals layered with Emily Young's highlight "In a Syndey Motel." Piano, bass and drums. The lyrics are about a relationship with a harsh beginning. This is a beautiful song. An electric piano opens the instrumental "Giles Farnaby's Dream." A strumming ukulele, guitar and bass. Strings are added and the pace quickens. Another winner. The second side begins with the nearly 12-minute instrumental "The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter." An strumming guitar and bass. Different instruments start coming in..violin, more strings and the electric piano. There's drama two-thirds of the way in when we get a dualing violin and electric piano. Quite the lovely and relaxing tune I must say. This album was quite enjoyable. It's mostly instrumentals and, for me, the songs can fall in the classical, baroque pop, experimental pop, opera-like or soundtrack-like categories. There's no doubt as to the influence of Brian Eno as some of these songs could have have fit on a number of his 1970's albums. Overall, a very good and recommended album.

Solid. Super enjoyable. Chill.

Penguin Cafe Orchestra is a British music group founded by musician / composer Simon Jeffes in 1972. The album I listened to today is their debut. While having experimental segments and elements mixed in throughout, this album alleviates them with calming and more accessible chamber jazz, with elements of ambient and minimalism. I really like the calmer portions of this album, they’re such a mood if that makes sense. The strings on this album are amazingly well done and are so serene. I also love the keyboards on this album, they just have this texture that I really dig. The best example of both is the longest song on the album, *The Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away and It Doesn’t Matter*. When a song has a name like that you know it has something to deliver, and it surely does. The ambient elements I mentioned certainly shine through here. This track is amazing, and it never drags for a second to me. On the experimental stuff on this album, I’m sad to admit that it’s kind of hit or miss to me. Sometimes it does stuff that keeps me interested, and other times it kind of turns me off. An example of that is the track *Milk,* it’s rather out there and silly. However, it didn’t really sit right with me for whatever reason. The lyrics on this album, which are very few, didn’t really reel me in as well. Despite what I said, this album is a nice little experience. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something’s chill and/or experimental.

3.5 - There was some gold in this, but it was a very meandering album and its the first time i've ever just sat down and listened to a whole PCO album

Eno with a lighter heart, but similar in that it can seem unresolved or never arriving though an awfully fun listen. Don't sleep on the Found Harmonium tunes either.

‘Music From The Penguin Café’ is adventurous and avant-garde and baroque, bordering on classical. I find it an achingly beautiful, and beautifully sad record, full of melancholy, and a surprising amount of darkness. It’s strange and experimental, yet familiar and comforting. Dreamlike….I like this a lot.

Beautiful yet odd Emotional arrangements Feels fresh and timeless

Overall: 8/10 Usually I can get a good sense of how I feel about an album after one listen but this was a twofer if I ever heard one. I found it to be challenging yet rewarding. This certainly isn't your typical mainstream pop album. I'd even go as far as to say that it's experimental in it's blending of genres that feels cohesive and eclectic. It may not be something that you decide to listen to every day but the occasional spin would be a delightful change of pace. Fav Song: Penguin Cafe Single Least Fav Song: Coronation

What in the fresh heck is going on here? I love it. It makes no sense. The Penguin Cafe Orchestra creates such an odd avant-garde atmosphere, creating what I'd call the musical equivalent of liminal space. I was so intrigued during the forty-two minutes of runtime that I couldn't really say I enjoyed it so much as vividly and confusedly experienced it. The electric keyboard, violin, cello, chilling Nico-esque vocal, and bass mesh well together, despite them not necessarily being played masterfully. The main highlight track is The Sound Of Someone..., which has a soft, melancholic feel that's fairly distinct from the more upbeat remainder of the album. I enjoy this kind of muted guitar tone (seen frequently in some of my all-time favourite albums, like Radiohead's In Rainbows). The ultra-high strings, which appear in this track and several others, aren't my favourite sound, but I can understand their place as another quirky voice in the choir of strange musical interactions and conversations going on here. The Sound Of Someone... showcases a great deal of these conversations. It's pretty captivating. Probably better on drugs, too. 4/5 Key tracks: Penguin Cafe Single, Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream, The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter

This was a lovely surprise. Enjoyed every minute

It's a (mostly) instrumental album that's a little odd/experimental but quite great. Really listenable and it feels like there's a nice variety from song to song. I landed on a 4-star rating but it's a high 4.

Just the right kind of weird - interesting, cool, pleasant. I was surprised to see the release year, since it sounds like it could be much more recent. With its evocative title, “Sound of Someone You Love Going Away…” made me tear up a bit. Like the Throbbing Gristle album from last week, this is the sort of thing I love to get from this list - no idea what to expect going in, or even track-to-track once it starts, but with everything coming together in a captivating and enjoyable way. Easy 4. Love the cover

Interesting album. You can hear the influence of executive producer Brian Eno. Reminded me in places of Caravan and Camel. I liked it.

Well it's kinda unconventional? Classical, electronic, New Age? I like it but it's not the greatest thing on toast..... The fact Eno produced it an it was on the Obscure record label doesn't suprise me. I'm glad this sort of thing qualifies for this chart.

I liked this way more than I expected after reading the description. Perfect background music with just enough to draw your interest back in.

82/100. This album is a fantastic listen. However, its main drawback lies in its length, as it tends to drag in places. The "Zopf" bundle, in particular, feels like it disrupts the album's flow. Without it, the record would be close to perfection.

This is what I want from 1001 albums. Weird orchestral stuff I'd never listen to otherwise. Good artwork. Some of the zopf stuff in the middle wasn't so much my cup of tea but picked up in the last 4-5 songs

I really liked this album and music. As soon as I saw it was produced by Eno, I knew I'd have interest, and while it didn't blow my mind, it was very pleasant and interesting. I definitely want to listen to more Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

Experimental music using an orchestra. It grew on me. 4/5

Really enjoyed it

Afslappende

Aldrig hørt om det før, men super fedt! Lød ikke rigtig som noget jeg har hørt før, der er godt nok mange 70er-gems derude

This album changed my perspective on this entire project of mine. Wow. Just wow. Such a beautiful gem of an album that sounds like the most beautiful piece of lost media until it hit my ears for the first time.

Onirique (mais pas dans le sens mièvre). La musique est narrative en soi, inventive, tour à tour caressante, lyrique et inquiétante.

Turn between 3 and 4? Quirky, charming, at times frustrating, and at other times beautiful.

I've loved getting 2 instrumental albums back to back - first the post-rock of Tortoise and now the.... how do you categorize this? Apple Music says "rock" and I politely and firmly disagree... Brian Eno was executive producer which might mean nothing more than "I'll pay for your studio time" but "Eno" should be a category because that would track here. I love it - it's ... Penguin Cafe Orchestra, I don't know if there's a better description. I was familiar with their later track "Perpetuum Mobile" which is a favourite but am not sure I'd heard this album. Highlight: keys (Fender Rhodes?) on the longest track "The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter" Different and weirdly unpredictable. 8/10 4 stars

What a peculiar and unique album that mostly defies categorization. Experimental but still pleasant (some decent instrumental hooks) with a lot of emotion depth, just a unique way form of musical expression. Violin, cello, keys, and other instruments play around each other, occasionally against each other, sometimes in song form, sometimes out in space. They sweep you up in their tornado and bring you along for a ride. Occasionally they lose me or I drop attention for a bit. But overall it’s interesting music that rewards a deep listen but would shit a background nicely too. Appreciated hearing something with a different and unique sound…my morning listen was a 2 but I’m glad I had time to hear it again and bump it up - I experienced it more strongly the second go. There some other unique albums from this list that I didn’t love, but they still stick out to me and I like to revisit them to try to better grasp these new ideas (looking at you, American Gothic)…does that make it good? Probably just makes it something I need more than a day with.

Really interesting and creative

The first track sounds exactly like the interstitial music from Summer Heights High, which explains why the album cover depicts a white dude pretending to be a penguin

I was surprised how much I liked this. Chilled, jazzy, a great background album but one that is surprisingly deep with it.

Raro pero mola

Soy un hombre de palabra al que le apetece ir al Penguin Café.

There is a sort of happy magic in this album. I love the elements of classical and whimsical pushed together. It brought me a touch of joy while I worked. That’s worth 4 stars for sure.

At times a truly beautiful and jaw dropping experiment into the power of lesser-known instruments to create wonderful soundscapes, and at other times an overly long collection of material that juuuust barely overstays its welcome.

Well that was cool. Some tracks stood out more than others. Some stopped me in my tracks to listen closer. Some were a bit weird, and I'm not sure if it was good weird or not. I've known about this music as a fan of Erased Tapes, but hadn't taken the time to listen to an album of theirs, so I'm glad I did finally.

magic at 33 revolutions per minute

Original petit album instru, j'aime bien

I loved the lush songs on this one. The harmony that the e-organ, guitar and strings create is immaculate

Went into this one completely blind which is always a gamble. It's categorized here as Pop but that's definitely not it. I really enjoyed it. I could see playing this album in the summer while just hanging out in the afternoon or having people over for cocktails. Very interesting arrangements and, once you listen, it's actually a lot more intricate than it first seems. It makes sense that it was produced by Brian Eno. I'll probably keep this on regular rotation for a while and will totally buy it if I see it in the record store. Also, is this the greatest album cover of all time? Perhaps... 4/5

This album varies between a Disneyesque playfulness and an eerie carnival, with a wide range of other emotions in-between. It's weird and experimental, and just the kind of thing I want from this list.

Tulee mieleen muutama hyvä artisti tätä kuunnelessa. Kiva.

This is exactly what I want from this list. Something different that I would have never found on my own.

I give 4 stars, because it is era appropriate, and credits the string players. Not a party.mix, for sure.

Pretty weird new age. Interesting though. More like this!

Tickling and mysterious, but the Penguin Cafe Single is the best song of the album, and while the rest blend well together, then seem as if they should be long 20 minute jams as opposed to their own songs.

I liked this mix of genres. Nice album Ive never heard of.

A gem! Playful composition which take from folk, classical and avant-garde to make something quite unlike any of it’s influences. I discovered this album when I first read through this books many years ago, and it’s always a pleasure to return to.

Tufft

Top album/band name and album cover. I expect great things. I swear I've heard the melodies in Penguin Cafe Single before. Reminds me of the Beatles in some ways. Really enjoying Zopf: Milk. This is some enjoyably trippy shit. Hugebaby is wonderful. The minor progression + the screeching strings are ominous/unsettling and yet the song remains pretty. I really enjoyed this album after a single listen -- diving right back in. It never escalates too much, but makes for enjoyable and interesting background music. I am a simple man -- the sounds make my ear vibrate good. 4 / 5.

Never heard an album be so cheery yet so creepy at the same time. MILK! woah what a weird song. Made my hairs stand up. The whole Zopf section of this album was crazy. What an absolute wild ride of crazy strings and electronics that didn't make up conventional songs at all but was still wildly enjoyable. I am glad the spooky songs were surronded by pretty beautiful tracks or else this would have been a hard album to listen to. But because there was a mix that made it a pretty dang good album. This music is not at all what I expected from a band called Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Well done to them for making an extremly unique album. High 4

ENO This is strange. I recognize something in this song but not sure where from. The middle of the first song reminds me of Willy Wonka the movie for some reason. The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter is an insanely good song I loved that weird shit. Really loving the second half of this. This was a pretty solid 3 until the second half bumped it up. Highly enjoyable stuff. Never really know where it's gonna go which I appreciate.

It's Penguin Cafe, what's not to like? Definitely some more "out there" songs than I expected and seemingly Avante Garde for the 70s, but still an enjoyable album.

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 🐧❤️🐧🏖️ Mix: 🎧😘🤌 Musik: "A Surprise To Be Sure, But A Welcome One!" Wertung: 🐧🐧🐧🐧/5

I would LOVE to visit a penguin cafe (even if it would smell very fishy). Penguins are just super cute and mega cool. I think it's the way they move. I can just imagine them sat around in a Shoreditch cafe, sporting hipster moustaches, with this record playing on the vintage grammphone in the corner. A deliciously weird, avante garde, atmospheric, orchestral, dream-like little number. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Date listened:

I'm giving this minimum 4 stars no matter what based on the art alone. But, really, for being a more calm album, it still goes through different and ambitious ideas. I'm able to clearly picture in my head activities and interpretations as done by penguins, fulfilling the mission. Wait, that's not the mission? Shouldn't have been so penguin forward. This is an album by penguins, for penguins.

I think the best way to describe this album is quaint. It was a pleasing mix of electric ambient noises with a little bit of strings thrown in. I can see why it would be difficult to classify, but it did remind me of other albums, just ones from at least two decades later. For me, this falls somewhere between a 3 and a 4, but I'm feeling generous as it was just what I needed on a Sunday, so it's getting 4 stars.

lowkey FIRE

Wild and lovely and entertaining, experimental folk-tronica, but with live musicians. 4 stars.

Holy cow, really loved this one. An interesting blend of styles, veering into almost classical territory with the traditional instrumentation. A good chunk of this album is presented as a musical suite too, which is something I always enjoy. Not sure what else to say, but this is some kind of hidden gem. Wikipedia doesn't have much at all about this one, but I'm really glad we got it. Favorite tracks: Penguin Cafe Single, Surface Tension, Milk, The Sound of Someone You Love, Chartered Flight. Album art: Really, really dig the cover for this one. A guy pretending to be a bird (not doing a great job of it) hanging out at the Penguin Cafe and trying to blend in with the locals. A painted art piece, the colors are great, and the bold blue framing is great too. Just a really solid and memorable piece of art. 4.5/5

Mostly quirky. Calming and sweet at times. Jarring and experimental. Very, very interesting.

Chill album. I think I liked the non-Zopf songs more, but they were all pretty good. I didn't care for the vocals and think those songs would have been better without them. 4/5

I really liked this record. It not only sounds like some of the good experimental groups that also came from the 70's, but even reminded me a bit of some more modern acts like Sleepytime Gorilla Museum at times.

Never heard of this, but really liked it. I'd be into listening to more of these guys. Too bad the main dude died at 47 :( 4/5

This sounds like it could be the soundtrack of a sad romance movie.

Beautiful album. Great find since I never heard of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra before.

Very odd, in a good way! Feels almost more like a classical piece than most things on the list, with wilfully weird lyrics and gorgeous music

I like a lot of what I've heard here, and I really considered giving it five stars but it lacks that memorability factor that I look for in a five-star album. Still a very good and pleasant listen though.

That was a really good album. I loved the variety of styles and that it kept me on my toes. I definitely heard some Larks Tongues in Aspic influence in there. I also recognized some Godspeed You! Black Emperor in the song Chartered Flight. My only qualm is that the album was a bit too over the place which sacrificed cohesion. Still though, a great album. 4/5.

Thoroughly enjoyed this! definitely coming back to this one

A fascinating piece of avant-garde jazz. As I'm listening to this, I keep hearing snippets of tunes that I could swear I've heard before, even though I've never heard this disc at all. Then I saw that it was produced by Brian Eno and it all made sense. His atmospherics are all over this album. Some very nice playing -- quite approachable for jazz heads and newbies alike. I give it a thumbs up.

Completely unknown to me but strangely interresting. Added to favorites.

ovo je zapravo fascinantno da je dobro, sviđa mi se

Àlbum divertido, de música instrumental con toques un tanto creepies.

Atmospheric, jazzy, experimental, chaotic, and somehow chill. It’s hard to even tell what decade this may have been recorded. I definitely loved the whole experience with the exception of the few noisy tracks.

A really mysterious record. Had never heard anything of it but it was a really unique experience. Fantastic musicianship and really interesting arrangements. Will definitely work into my rotation

Música de ambiente. Bastante agradable.

Well the Penguin Cafe Orchestra have waddled their way onto my list of acts I have been gladly impressed by from the generator. What a whimsically fun listen it was, starting with the joyful tones of the Penguin Cafe Single. They got weird too and I am not against that, Milk was excellent. The Sound of Someone You Love was gorgeous. I really enjoyed this experience, it was actually a really good album to work to as well. 10/10 album art too. I’ll absolutely waddle back the the Penguin Cafe. 4 stars

This is so fun I listened to it again. Almost a 5 except the weird verbal interludes distracted a little.

Música de ambiente. Bastante agradable.

I have a theory that there are two types of great artists: Experimenters and Consolidators. Most artists would like to think of themselves as Experimenters, but the work of the Consolidator is arguably more important; being able to take the weirder aspects of Experimenters art and recontexualising it to the extent that it becomes an established part of an artistic movement or form is difficult, arguably more so than ripping the rulebook up. Music From The Penguin Café is without a doubt a work of experimentation. An odd album made by a band who consisted of a guitarist, an electric pianist, a violinist, a cellist, and an occasional ukulele player and vocalist, it’s music is equally inspired by 70’s Sunshine Pop, Baroque String Music and Celtic Folk, with the odd bit of Atonality thrown in for good measure. It’s a mix that doesn’t always work. But when it does, it works incredibly. The best use is the centrepiece, the 12 minute long ‘The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter’ which manages to perfectly balance all of the elements in such a way that it captures the journey from longing to acceptance and perfectly portrays the feeling of existential dread and the resulting panic attack. Ultimately, I enjoyed this album. It’s often beautiful, occasionally touching, and not as twee as the name would have you think (apart from the lyrics to Coronation, wtf were they thinking with that?) But I do also think that it ultimately fails as a piece of experimental art. One of the things that Experimenters have to do is ensure their work is Consolidatable, and Music From The Penguin Café has no successors, nobody attempting to reproduce it’s sound in a more recognisable context. But, for a piece of esoterica, it is well worth a listen.

interesting

Proper silly name and album cover, really love it.

What a delightful and odd album this is. Chamber music with some weird singing thrown in, tons of abnormal rhythms and yet a very clean sound.

Very pleasantly surprised - interesting, calming, nice to have in the background while working

Fantastic album… so many cool grooves throughout. Would definitely play again when feeling like a vibe.

Oh shit! I've loved this group for a very long time. My 43rd most listened to band since 2011. Not my favorite album from them but still love it and being the first I get it's relevance on this list. "... in the Penguin Cafe your unconscious can just be. It's acceptable there, and that's how everybody is. There is an acceptance there that has to do with living the present with no fear in ourselves."

Não percebi o conceito relacionado ao nome, que de fato é maravilhoso. E o som é bem legal.

Haunting at times, beautiful at others. Conveys a great mix of emotions throughout while using a plethora of sounds.

There’s a section of the first track that was 100% ripped off by Huey Lewis and The News in “Heart and Soul”. Excellent band, innovative compositions, great musicians, and an enduring influence on avant garde (and even 80s pop) music. Some parts run a little noisy, but overall this was lovely. It’s nice to have something other than hippie shit.

This is a strange one! But a worthy inclusion, I think? This was a pleasant listen, one that truly sounded like the soundtrack at a penguin café! Atmospheric music that verges on the bizarre, but actually just stays pretty chill, without ever doing anything all that weird at all. Whimsical, avant-garde coffee shop vibes here, and I am here for them.

Unique approach and enjoyable listen. I found this amazing for background music while working, but also interesting as a focused listen.

Sounds like the soundtrack to Bluey. I really enjoyed it. A few off putting songs that I guess I don't get.

One has dug the PCO ever since one got wind of them in early '00s (one guesses) or maybe late '90s on (one suspects) Prairie Home Companion. Somehow not listened much in recent years. Love the floating neo-classical with a wink, and the noodling, light-hearted and light-headed vibe. A freshness, too, one still hears. Even rather timeless – certainly lacks that stale '70s aroma so common to innovative/experimental efforts of that era. It almost seems if it ought to belong to a new genre – Le Neue Musique Concrete, or something. Different, original (if not quite sui generis), unmistakable, contemplative, inventive, enjoyable –  what more to say? And if it's good enough for Eno, it ought to be good for the rest of us.

Loved this album but wish it had pushed its experimental nature a bit further

Nice and relaxing

Fascinating record. Part chamber music, part psychedelic like Pink Floyd, part minimal music like Philip Glass, part plain weird like Zappa. But it all sounds smooth and gentle. Even the weird dissonant parts. Favorite song: Penguin Cafe Single.

Interesting and playful pop music. This definitely feels like something that would be on Eno's label, and that's a compliment. I like how tough to describe or pin down this music is. It really feels otherworldly.

Weird. I had only heard one of their songs before

lovely and strange!

Ved ikke engang rigtigt hvorfor jeg synes det er så fedt at høre på. Hyggelige strygere og gode vibes. I just think its neat!

It's really pretty. It's happy and relaxing, like a farming video game OST but much more engaging and unpredictable. Has pop hooks with short fluid tracks but is derivative of modernist classical music in terms of how instruments grab your attention then transfer that spotlight to other key players. Also the emphasis on the avant-garde as it shows its wacky surreal side, but never anything too uncomfortable. You have a borderline of different genres to the point where you never know what you're getting next. "Coronation" is romantic, "Giles Farnaby's Dream" is (British) folk, and "Pigtail" is ambient (the most obvious of Eno's presence). You could even make arguments about how some of this could be considered prog or post-rock in how it seems to only vaguely resemble rock music structure. Hell, the opening reminded me of King Crimson's Larks Tongue.

I think I might have seen this album cover before, but I was completely unfamiliar with the artist or the sound of this album. This was very pleasant to listen to, and some of the songs sounded somewhat familiar; maybe I've heard some of them in a movie. I thought the arrangements on this album were fantastic. None of the songs were boring, and even the longer songs managed to keep my attention. I spent a good amount to time today wondering why this album made the list. Sure, it's a good album, and it's nice to listen to, but these albums all have some sort of cultural impact or significance, and I couldn't for the life of me think about how this album was influential. I don't think this album caused an explosion in popularity of bands that played mostly instrumental music. Hell, the only other band I can think of that is anything close to this is Explosions in the Sky, and that's honestly kind of a stretch. However, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered about this album's influence on popular music. And then it hit me: I think this album probably had a huge influence on new wave artists in the eighties, especially sophisti-pop artists. A good number of artists in the eighties started incorporating more strings and more orchestral sounds into their music to give them a more 'elevated' feel, and I would imagine that this album made that idea more palatable. I'm not sure why I included this thought, other than the fact that thinking about this after listening to this album was fun in a way. Now that I'm done rambling, I thought this album was really well made and full of great musical arrangements. It wasn't my absolute favorite, but I'll definitely revisit it, since it's just a nice album to have on.

Interesting album, original, some unexpectedly familiar tunes I didn't know where they came from. This is the sort of album that this project should be uncovering.

Chilly

Loved this! I know a little Penguin Cafe Orchestra, pretty much the same stuff everyone knows, but I will be digging in further for sure.

Oi. Dette er et album som krever at man lytter godt, tar seg tid. Det er i tillegg et album jeg kunne tenke meg å høre gjennom flere ganger.

man, i didn't know what to expect from this one. i'd never heard of the album or the artist, but looked it up on wikipedia and saw brian eno's name. with that all the information i had, i plunged in and, boy, i suspect that this album is not going to be everyone's bag, but i really enjoyed my time with it. very serene and chill, a bit avant-garde at times, some really enjoyable play with dissonance. definitely feels like a small chamber orchestra at times. just a really cool vibes album.

Really enjoyed this, and certainly didn’t expect to. Influential, I can hear Kid A in this record. Were Thom and Jonny secret Penguin fans.

very soothing background or reading album i will enjoy this again!

The kind of random, weird album this exercise is ideal for.

This is hysterical in some weird vague way to me. Penguins are adorable and for some reason I hear this music and I want to giggle. What and where is The Penguin Cafe? Why does it have its' own orchestra? I love the middle section of the first song, "Penguin Cafe Single", around the 2:30 mark. It's a stark contrast (while still living in the same musical world) as the first two and a half minutes, and it's such a perplexing direction that I can't help but wonder more about the context for it's addition. The vibraphone at times sounds atonal. I wasn't expecting vocals! That was a nice surprise. I love the experimenting in "Zopf: Milk". Very interesting. At this point I'm really along for the ride and it's picking up steam. I really enjoyed this. I think it hit on a lot of things that I like when it comes to an album's construction and the overall sound is something that I will gladly come back to.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Penguin cafe single, Zopf: from the colonies, The sound of someone you love who’s going away and it doesn’t matter

Very interesting. I enjoyed it for sure, and it is hard to place (which I like about it). Apple Music calls it "rock," but it is certainly not that.

This isn’t bad! I listened to Preludes, Airs, and Yodels by them and I like it better

Lovely instrumental! Provided a great Christmas gift idea for a penguin loving friend

I enjoyed this one a lot. No one is more surprised than me.

Love that weird Brian Eno stuff

I absolutely love Penguin Cafe Orchestra. I would have given 5 stars for their second album, which I much prefer. It's got lovely melodies, eccentricity, musique concrete found sounds.

Happy to have some stuff like this on the list. Not sure about the genre assignment. Anyway, loved some of it, like From the Colonies, did not enjoy some of it, like Coronation. Most of it I liked, Giles Farnaby's Dream and Hugebaby are quite lovely. Overall, interesting listening, four stars.

Penguin Cafe Single - 8.5/10 Zopf: From the Colonies - 8/10 Zopf: In a Sydney Motel - 8/10 Surface Tension - 8/10 Zopf: Milk - 8/10 Zopf: Coronation - 8/10 Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream - 8/10 Zopf: Pigtail - 8/10 The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter - 7/10 Hugebaby- 7/10 Chartered Flight - 8/10 TOTAL - 86.5/110

This is so good I wish penguins were real

Not gonna lie, they got me with the cover art and band name already

A breezy, folk-indebted classical spell for the ages, Penguin Cafe Orchestra (awesome name, by the way) make their presence felt with whimsy mixed with moments of seriousness, as noted by the twelve minute epic of The Sound of Someone You Love... Whether people want to embrace them or dismiss them is completely down to how they perceive them. Penguins? From a cafe? In an orchestra? Gee whiz... Favorites: Penguin Cafe Single, Zopf: From the Colonies, Zopf: In a Sydney Motel, Zopf: Milk, Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream, The Sound of Someone You Love..., Hugebaby.

Very chil, perfect for a small cleaning session !

an eno project, and it really sounds like it. there’s something here but it all feels a bit like a mediocre movie soundtrack. you can tell exactly who it inspired (big thief i’m looking at you) but on its own it’s a bit lackluster

Folk instrumental. Interesante.

I wasn't thrilled to draw this. The cover art is not appealing. I expected it to be weird, and not weird in a good way either. I was very pleasantly surprised to enjoy this a lot. I will probably come back to this one someday and might even peek into some of their other stuff.

What a weird but fun 70s listen!

It isn't quite enough to call this folk, but it's a bit tricky to describe it with its electric instruments, ukulele and spinet. It was really a joy to listen to. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I have watched Penguin Cafe Orchestra's appearance at the Tiny Desk concerts, but that might be the extent of what I've heard. I enjoyed Music From The Penguin Cafe. There is a mix of acoustic instruments, some more orchestral in arrangement than others, and tracks that are centered around electronic instruments and sounds. There were a couple of tracks that had some noise to sort through, but were still interesting. with a mix of acoustic and electronic music. "Giles Farnaby's Dream" was the track that I rated the highest, which has a great combination of string sounds with a mandolin or ukulele, cello, harpsichord, and guitar. I really liked side two (composed of the last three tracks of the album) as well. The tracks on side two allowed for some development and movement through the music that I enjoyed.

Pretty awesome find.

Pleasantly surprised by this album, was grooving to an eclectic mix of instruments

This was an interesting album. A little bit jazz, a little bit pop, a little bit Kraftwerk. I was driving around town while listening to this and it was super pleasant.

Monsieur Eno toujours dans les bons coups

je suis tres partagée mais bon mood donc 4

Listened while walking around the airport, it was nice!

Really solid music- felt like I was on a journey.

разнообразно и интересно музыка очень своеобразная точно стоит внимания

Я слышал о них много раз, но так и не доходили уши послушать. Очень интересный эксперимент фолка и джаза и каких-то синтов. Чувствуется одновременно и умиротворение и напряжение (уверен им это выдал Брайан Ино)

Очень сильно напомнило саундтрек к какой-то adventure игре. Типа Зельды... Вайб неопределенности, загадочности. Что-то такой плывущее вокруг тебя, иногда возвращающее к жизни при помощи ассонансов и случайных звуков. Забавна конструкция альбома: внутри есть отдельная многочастная история, сыграная как бы отдельной группой, Zopf. Причем это не просто расширенный состав участников, а можно даже сказать - альтер-эго. Стиль разительно отличается. Там прям как будто какая-то кельтская сказка или что-то вроде. Камень в огород этому альбому - всякие неожиданные дисгармоничные звуки. Как-то я видимо ещё не смирился, что я не фанат такого, и что надо просто потерпеть. Но... несколько треков меня немножко вывели из зоны комфорта.

По сути альбом чизкейк. С большего очень мягко, но есть какая-то нотка местного фрукта, которая не позволяет сказать: "ну альбом как альбом". Но как и обычно в чизкейках, этой штуки всегда не хватает. Так что не 5

Album 11 of 1001 Penguin Orchestra Cafe - Music From the Penguin Cafe Favorite Track : Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream Rating : 4 / 5 I like my orchestra music. This was fun orchestra music. Some of it is way out there. Were it not for this list, I would have never heard this. Glad I did.

Really interesting mostly instrumental music. It flies by and carries you along with it while you float on the penguin. A great sound to have on while you float.

Alternatingly jaunty, melancholy, unabashedly weird, at times uncomfortable. Pleasantly odd, with strategically employed moments of dissonance. Ahead of its time musically. Not an artist I was familiar with at all, so this was a nice surprise. Fave Songs: The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter, Chartered Flight, Giles Farnaby's Dream, Surface Tension (Where the Trees Meet the Sky), Hugebaby

Did not know PCO, but realize they have been quite influential and recognized some of their better known later work. This album: liked the accessible, melodic parts, less keen on the more experimental parts, and might prefer their later work.. In any case, nice 1001 discovery!

Very interesting album. Always down for some fender rhodes and violin. Some parts reminded me of a very soft Mahavishnu Orchestra. Overall, the album did feel a bit uneven, and my attention started to wear off a little toward the end. I'm curious about their other albums.

Intriguing stuff, it got me captivated.

i enjoyed this. it was fun that it had penguins in the name because it made me think of little dancing penguins the whole time, lol. 7/10

Nice

I’d only heard one song of theirs from a different album, and this was solid mood music.

Mostly instrumental, sometimes chill, sometimes spooky. Nice. Soundtrack potential.

extremely weird. love it

A strange little album that works both as a whole and when considering each track separately. Somehow both folk-tinged and coldly experimental.

That's something truly beautiful. The beginning of each track was splendid, unfortunately it is a bit too repetetive, so that's not a 5

My experience with this album was similar with that oxygene album I got where I was completely pleasantly surprised by a mostly instrumental soundtrack. The first song was amazing and the rest wasn’t as good as oxygene but I still really enjoyed listening to all of it

Amazing.

completely instrumental, at some point it grabbed my interest and didnt let go

I was pretty confused about what this was when I first got it, but I ended up liking it a lot. As I've said before, I like orchestral music, so this album is pretty up my alley. It's an odd one, but I like that. My favourite songs were Zopf: From The Colonies, Zopf: Coronation, and The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter.

I'll be listening to this again.

Had not heard this before but really loved it, perfect for cheering you up if you're in an odd mood. The vibe reminded me of the first Sigur Ros album, although this obviously pre-dates it, and is not hugely similar musically . 4 stars now, will probably become a firm favorite over time.

Cute little album

Beautiful

Ok

Really good, didn't expect this one.

Was not expecting this. Surprising experiminimalist work that sets a course for other germs like The Books. I can dig it.

I enjoyed this album. I will also undoubtedly never listen to it again. Best track: Penguin Cafe Single

pleasant

Very good chilled out album Like milk

With its appearance I was baffled but when I got to listen to it I found it pleasant albeit a little odd. The folk and classical marriage works well - and somehow the whole record feels very orchestrated and thematic.

Love this! Makes me think of Stereolab.

Was kinda disappointed each time the vocals came in throughout the album. I wanted to stay inside the instrumental landscape they were building. Might have been a five for me had it remained entirely instrumental, but still, gotta give it some major love and respect for daring to create something outside of typical genre boundaries.

I had heard "The sound of someone you love who’s going away and it doesn’t matter" which I enjoy quite a bit. I believe I listened to this album once before and it didn't quite live up to the feelings I had with this certain song. I'm not sure the inclusion of vocals helps the album, but I get the feeling they got a group of folks together and they just do what they want, which I can respect. Also if you told me Brian Eno was singing on the track "In A Sydney Hotel" I would believe you. I just looked it up and apparently he is a producer, ha. Also absolute banger of a band name. I respect the concept enough to but up from 3.5 to 4, but I don't wanna hear all the tracks, personally.

Eccentrics, man.

This was the best album that I'll never listen to again. Some really cool stuff there, but not my preferred genre.

I'm not sure what to say about this album but I know I liked it.

Gostoso de ouvir.

Bizarre and fantastic. I hardly know how to classify this, and it demands some context. But it is wildly enjoyable from start to finish. Way to go, classical pals.

I love this band, and there's no better working music. Enough going on to get you through a large spreadsheet, slowly changing enough to not distract.

fozzie’s version of Simon Smith was a profound part of my childhood. Much to appreciate on this album

Música de ambiente. Bastante agradable.

an interesting album. Early Floyd meets an Orchestra

Love the album cover to start with. Baroque fans is very fond of Giles Farnaby's Dream! I'm very happy meeting this album!

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Folky, orchestrally and a bit post-rocky (before post-rock was a thing).

This is the album I didn't know I needed. Love me some experimental music, especially when it's mostly instrumental.

Nice and relaxing

8/10. This was really nice.

Odd but interesting orchestral type music. Mostly confused about the impact of this album. 7/10

I love these groups that are hard to categorize, I would say they are Chamber/Folk/Rock. I particularly like them in their later albums when they become more minimalistic, similar to Glass or Nyman, but always very melodic and fairly accessible. This was a great debut by the Penguins, and I really enjoyed The Sound of someone you love and when it becomes very dissonant at around the 7 min mark. I'm glad they got recognized by 1,001.