Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Many of the songs felt familiar. Added a handful to my instrumental playlist; not sure I'll ever revisit the album though.
Never heard of this before. Pretty interesting overall, not surprised that. Eno was involved. Nice listen.
Shite
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
vivid, emotional and engaging
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.
This is one of my favorite albums we have done so far. I am doing this as a catch-up review but the name has had me intrigued since I missed it. After seeing the album art I was already endeared. 3 tracks in, I had to learn more about the group and of course, for the 6th time on this list, I saw Brian Eno as an executive producer. That man is everywhere! "The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter" really carried that narrative from top to bottom. Gut wrenching but evocative. Ill certainly be looking at more of their albums!
Hyvää tausta ja opiskelumusiikkia, ei jaksanut kiinnostaa loppuun asti.
A lot of this album is fairly uninteresting to me, and then all of a sudden it hits The Sound of Someone... and I understand it. A deeply relaxing listen if nothing else, but one I'm unlikely to come back to.
a delightfully strange album
Super chill, but a little too goofy to be background music. classical ambient music mixed with some more experimental stuff
4, bello bello. Forse 5
didn’t like it that much, so psychedelic for my taste
Dad- 5 Mom- 5 Mike- 4 Lori- 5 Michael- 6.5 Miles- 5 Cole- 5 Avg- 5.07
Herlige tracks men litt for repetetivt
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
I appreciate the experimental nature of this album and actually some of the music is very good. Is it my jam? No, and that's why music is very subjective. While others may enjoy this immensely, I did not. I do give them 2 stars for musical ability. Not much more than that to push it above 2 stars though.
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
Alright but weird
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
10/10 some of the most beautiful orchestration and instrumentation I’ve ever heard it’s difficult for me to pick a favorite song, but if I had to choose one I’d likely go with Zopf: In a Sydney Motel
This is DEFINITELY what a cafe for/by penguins sounds like
🚬
good instrumental album
This is the stuff I signed up for. (36 known/81 new)
This album had me feeling a lot of different ways. Some of the songs were so eerie it was lowkey freaking me out. Overall I enjoyed it even though I don’t think it’s for me
This album was weird. Don't really know how else to put it. When I was listening to it, I had several "what the fuck?" moments.
Fav: The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter Notes: I surprisingly enjoyed this 70's classical shit. Played on repeat yesterday on the disc golf course and it was quite right.
Music can set a mood, and you've got to be ready to be set in a mood with this one or you're gonna have a bad time. I've enjoyed Brian Eno's productions before, Music For Airports for instance. Not sure where this one would land in my "I wanna set a mood" lexicon, but it would probably require a select group with some time on their hands and a willingness to spend it. That being said, there's some nice moments in here, as I would expect from an Eno production. Most of those moments are sans vocals, so, again, if that's what you're looking for, this album might have some appeal. 9 times outta 10 I'm probably not looking for this, though for that one other time, this one could fit adequately into a space.
Surprising chilling and pleasing, a bit boring though.
Music from the Penguin Cafe feels like the kind of album that exists mainly to be used in quirky radio intros or as background music for a BBC nature doc. And apparently, that’s kind of their thing — odd, artsy, slightly off-center instrumentals. Which is fine… for what it is. There are bits and pieces that are kind of catchy or interesting, but nothing that really sticks. It all just kind of floats by. Harmless, a little charming at times, but not something I’d ever throw on again. If you’re into music that sounds like it should be playing while someone explains how a hedgehog hibernates, this might be for you.
Never heard of this, but I’m enjoying it. This album is really enjoyable. I think I recognized some of the songs.
Interesting and unexpectedly varied in its emotional expression, this album is subtle and catchy with its musical motifs.
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 found this complex and intriguing. think I need to listen to it a few more times
Gonna drop a 5 on this bc this was such an unexpectedly fantastic discovery!! That first song will stick w me for sure!
I loved it
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!
Fancy restaurant background music. It's not bad; but there's nothing particularly unique or noteworthy about it. And a couple or three tracks suck.
Not to my taste, but love the album name and cover
No no no
Adore everything about this
Nice background stuff
Great music Memorable sequences Layered sounds Beautiful textures A great find
orchestras still feel like an untapped market somehow
This Album has at the same time the most interesting and the most boring moments of music I heard in a while. I can't bring myself to give it a 3, but for sure I won't give it a 5
Penguin Café Single 3.4 From the Colonies (for N.R.) 3.3 In a Sydney Motel 3 Surface Tension (Where Trees Meet the Sky) 3.1 Milk 2.2 Coronation 3 Giles Farnaby's Dream 3.3 Pigtail 3 The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter 3.2 Hugebaby 3.2 Chartered Flight 3.3 Score: 3.090909091
Bara fínt. Ekki mikið meira en það. Aldrei heyrt um þetta áður.
Áhugavert og fín vinnutónlist. Aldrei heyrt um þessar mörgæsir. Augljós Eno áhirf.
3 cute faves: suface tension, penguin cafe single
что-то интересное но довольно какофоничное и местами на расстроенных инструментах, пришлось выключить
Okay
So weird. Pleasant enough, but much is unremarkable/good background music.
Nikakav efekt. Previše smireno.
#95 - I wanted to like it and there's some good stuff here but the experimental bits are painful
Mostly nonsense, but some of it is beautiful.
What the actual fuck.
go back to it, such a interesting title
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.
nice enough but also who gives a shit
3.4
Such a fun album. Ahead of its time
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.
Was a very interesting album, sounded almost like some recent indie music. Crazy this released in 76
Pastoral mini suites. Very lovely indeed.
Þetta var áhugavert. Mér fannst lögin án söngs mun betri en hin. Það er eitthvað þarna sem daðrar allsvakalega við að vera gott en mér finnst samt vanta herslumuninn. Ég ætla að reyna að hlusta á fleira með þeim.
I enjoyed this obscure little nugget far more than I had any reasonable business to. And then I proceeded to ingest the entire discography of studio albums: Music from the Penguin Cafe Penguin Cafe Orchestra Broadcasting from Home Signs of Life Union Cafe I was not disappointed.
This was interesting. It went sideways a couple of times, but overall this was a fun entry.
I had no idea what this was all about and the cover art did not look promising, but I actually loved this album and was sad when it was over. Reminded me of Wilco and others. Shockingly modern sounding but released in 1976!?
fun, un-classifable music
I'd definitely give it 7 out of 10. As far as "Eno-related" instrumental music goes, I like this a lot. If I were better versed in the genre or could see that this influenced others, I might round up, but I don't believe it made much impact, and while I like it, I don't think it belongs with other 4 star albums, so I'm rounding down.
I get that these last few albums might be genre defining and cult classics but I don't really get them. Feel like there is a lot of music I'd rather listen to and the impact of these albums are lost on me since I have no idea of the context they were made in or the future they inspired. Still cool elevator music I guess.
Great orchestra! Feels very innovative, or at least very unique. Thoroughly enjoyed this album. I preferred the songs without vocals though. 4,5 stars
Een album met oprecht goede instrumentale nummers, vooral de lange nummers zijn highlights. Persoonlijke favoriet is 'the sound of someone you love going away and it doesn't matter' Ik was van plan dit album een 4/5 te geven maar de zopf tracks zijn aanzienlijk minder in kwaliteit. zopf milk was zo slecht dat ik het een punt minder moest geven. Het klinkt ergens een beetje als muziek die k/ms zou maken
A total fine album that makes me think more about the possibilities of why this is on the list and its historical significance and not about the actual listening experience. 5/10 is what I’m feeling with this one. Not bad, just not for me.
Some real gems here like The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter and Chartered Flight. Also quite a bit of experimental stuff that doesn't work for me. An odd one.
A good album cover is wasted for an hour of seriously boring music. 2 stars or D-.
Variety like this has been much needed! It’s the spice of life! I love their take on an album, and of course this has Brian Zeno’s fingerprints on it. There’s no frills and no adhesion to genre or hopes to land a radio hit, just a thorough front-to-back listen. The way the opening track slows to an end is so smooth and so pleasant! I have a bit of personal bias in liking “Surface Tension”, the rhodesy keyboards sound just like something off zedd’s Clarity album, both in their sound and chord structure. Probably my favorite off the album for that little nugget alone. Lastly, "The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter" has such a sensible little guitar riff, it’s so placid and perfect. While this album may not blow your socks off, it might help you ease into a morning or ease into bed. Give this one your time :)
Interesting
Really cool songs, Some are too weird for me though
I just didn't enjoy it.
I went in listening to this without knowing anything other than the cover art, name of the group, and the year it was released. Near the end of the album I heavily suspected that Brian Eno was some how involved. It had that mysterious and ambient feel to it that gave him away. These are the records that I am happy to see appear when I open up my project in the morning. It's much more exciting to dig into the Penguin Cafe Orchestra than a damn Bruce Springsteen album.
Rating: 3/5 | Favorite Track: Penguin Cafe Single --- I can understand the appeal as this album can be both whimsically quirks and eerily strange. I can definitely appreciate the musicality. However as a whole, this album isn't for me and didn't hold my attention throughout.
no. Great string section, but no. I was already skeptical and honestly intrigued until Zopf: In a Sydney Motel. They do a great job eliciting emotion, and highlighting my lack of patience for people fucking around on instruments (Zopf: Milk). I am good on never hearing anything from them again.
Penguin pubes! This album was okay. Some of it was nice, some of it was annoying. Those penguins can diddle a fiddle though!
Really wonderful interplay between the organic and synthetic. Warm lush strings work with cool synth and keyboard tones to create a vibrant, gently thrumming, peice of neo-classical music with shades of ambient experimentalism and jazzy psychedelia. Weird and whimsical, but expertly composed and crafted.
Pleasant melodies. Didn’t know what to expect but enjoyed a few of these tracks for sure.
Not my thing
84/1089 - Sounds like your average classical composition major senior recital. I didn't enjoy this.
Odd, but good. Nice background music.
The editors of the 1001 site classify this album as simply "Pop", but that designation falls short. I would have gone with something like "avant-garde Indie classical-leaning folk music". And compared to some of the other more unusual and "avant-garde" entries on this list, "Music From The Penguin Cafe" doesn't take musical experimentation too far. Plus it's a welcome respite from all the Shoegaze and Britpop bands this site keeps sending my way. One track might hold the record for longest song title: "The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter".
this is sick
Huh?!? I'm confused. What is this??? Well, I wouldn't say it's boring—I assume it's experimental art? HaHaHa - Funny for the brain Another fun fact: the only album I've listened to in one sitting without skipping... I'm proud of myself.
maybe if I was on a lot of drugs
I sensed it early on in track 1, the stench of Eno. Track 2 confirmed it. I didn't get any further. There are very brief periods of real music, but the rest of the time it was horrific, like my ears were being raped!
Fuck. Brian. Eno. Favorite songs: The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter, Penguin Cafe Single, Chartered Flight Least favorite songs: Zopf: Milk, Zopf: Coronation, Zopf: In a Sydney Motel 3/5
1/11, 9%
Len tried to make an actual Penguin Orchestra. He spent days trying to get those poor little creatures to play the trombone. It was the hair that broke the camels back as far as Lens acid days! 2.3
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.
The sort of music Brian Eno would have made if he wasn't on drugs.
What the hell did I just listen to. This album is the epitome of "there's a fine line between genius and madness". The album can be categorized as art/avangard classical pop, don't think I ever listened to something like this. Most of the songs are classical pieces, with various other instruments dissonantly coming in and breaking the balance. This gives the album a unique, progressive and uneasy feeling. What it manages to do perfectly though, is set the mood. This does feel like cafe music, but just not for a cafe on this planet. You are completely transported to a different reality, like in a dream. The dream being somewhere between blissful, most of the time, and a nightmare which comes from intermittent dissonant passages. The cover is genius, somehow, it manages to explain the album perfectly. It's a nice, casual, day, and a naked man with a penguin head is talking to a penguin, not weird at all. Really interesting album, one of the reasons all of us started listening to a list like this. You don't just bump into stuff like this. Wasn't sure whether to rate it a 3 or a 4, giving it a 3 in the end because I'm unlikely to listen to this again, I can't imagine a situation when this will come to mind.
Sadder than Sad Cafe
Liked it and found it relaxing. Saved to my collection.
I had never heard of this band or album before, but with Brian Eno involved, I expected something interesting. This is easily one of the most bizarre albums I’ve ever listened to. Judging by the reviews, I must be missing something—there are plenty of five-star ratings out there. Unfortunately, it won’t be getting one from me. Musically, some tracks were undeniably beautiful. I really enjoyed Penguin Cafe Single, Zopf from the Colonies, and The Sound of Someone You Love. However, the songs felt like they dragged on endlessly without much variation or progression. I can appreciate its artistry, but ultimately, I found it tedious. Favorite song: The Sound of Someone You Love—a lovely piece, but it could have been 10 minutes shorter. Least favorite song: Tracks 3–8 didn’t offer much at all. Album artwork: The cover is certainly unique.
Very unusual orchestra! Very string heavy (violins and guitars) with few to no lyrics. 1970s and drug influenced but not overwhelmingly so. I did get unnerved by discordant notes but it matched the title themes quite well.
Not my cup of tea really, was expecting more from this band
This was a strange one but weirdly enjoyable. I’d certainly listen to it again!
Still catching up - I chose this one because Penguins but had no idea what to expect. I instantly loved it. Adding The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter to my favorites
Could not Stream it.
Me caen muy mal los discos en los que al parecer la propuesta y el arte es hacer ruidos molestos o cantar canciones que solo dicen “MILK”. De esos experimentales fastidiosos que se siente duran una eternidad. Pensé que por la gran portada me la iba a pasar genial, pero fue una decepción.
Very good. I thought it was sorta vanilla at first but I am totally willing to listen again and sort of figure out what's going on, especially with the longer tracks and the really popular one. I'll circle back.
What a snooze-fest. Boring.
Such an odd sounding record with a few beautiful sounding highlights. Most of this is very 'Avant-garde', in not a particularly great way. As an experience, this album doesn't really end up anywhere or leave much of an impact. Some decent points, sure, but not particularly worth a relisten. Best Tracks: - The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter - Chartered Flight Worst Tracks: - From The Colonies Rating: 4.5/10
This was tite
Not for me 1/5
I'm torn, because I'm a longtime PC(O) enjoyer who literally got Arthur Jeffes to sign my jacket, but this feels extremely "debut album produced by Eno"? A lot of the tracks here could have used a bit more time to cook and get some more of the expansive sound I love this group for, although The Sound of Someone You Love... is a delight. Also, the vocals jumpscared me like damn.
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.
You know that feeling where you've watched through a long, LONG TV show, and one day you want to go back to it again? But when you do, season 1 just feels off because it doesn't have everything you remember from your most recent watch through - who's that again? Why is the theme tune different? Why is [X] being played by [Y]? This is that, but for music. I love Penguin Cafe Orchestra, I used to go to sleep listening to them - still do on occasion - but early I've only ever listened to their later stuff. Here the questions become, Why is everything so slowed down? Wherefore these electronic bleeps and sqwonks? WHY IS THERE SINGING? Wait, are they singing about suicide?? Yeah, this band is very much my thing, but this album isn't it. Go listen to their later stuff, they get better!
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
This was... interesting. I guess it's like a mix of like a chamber orchestra and a rock band, and the music was kind of okay, but not really mind-blowing for me. Some of it seemed a bit atonal and droning, and other tracks were nice background music that I could hum along to. I was ready for it to be over before it finished. Two stars.
really thoroughly enjoyed this will not be adding it to anything but it was 'nice', for a lack of another positively bland word
This was interesting. Not bad, but nothing I would return to. I wouldn’t be opposed to it, but I wouldn’t choose to throw it on.
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.
Favorite Track: Giles Farnaby's Dream
Weird aber interessant
this was great!
Sounds more like a score than an album. Listening to it is often deeply beautiful but it feels very much like it's missing the visual component it was meant to accompany. I would love to see this used to score a film someday.
Very good, wanna visit the Penguin Cafe
Pleasant enough but I had no strong feelings about this.
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
Totally unexpected. I knew some of their music from adverts and was expecting a pleasant, if slightly dull, coffee shop background music type of vibe. Instead, I get a weird, unsettling collection of gorgeous melodies and off key sound design choices. I'm pre-emptively giving a 5 because I think this will reveal more on repeated listens. Would put next to Plaid or Boards of Canada, rather than Morcheeba or more laid back stuff.
what a weird and funny album! Dig it.
No effing way!!! I LOVE this band. I cannot believe they threw this album on there. A great classical music influenced pop record. I never knew this band had any songs where there were vocals which is shocking and honestly not the best aspect of the album. Otherwise this album to me feels like it came from a co-owner of the said penguin cafe who hung up surreal penguin artwork (like the album cover). They bought the space from a former used instrument store and there were a lot of classical instrument lying around and they just made an album that would play in the background there or musicians would play at an open mic. Very DIY production feel/interesting instrumentation choices all over this thing. I like other albums more but this gets a five on the off chance those don’t show up on this site. The sound of someone, penguin cafe single, huge baby and chartered flight are great. Giles farnaby’s dream, milk, surface tension are cool from the “zopf” piece but there’s a lot of interesting experiments on those tracks that have some slightly mixed results. That being said, a unique record for an amazing band.
It was ok. I remember not being annoyed and being kind of interested in parts, but now that it's over I can't really remember anything about it.
I liked this quite a bit more than I expected, it was enjoyable background music. I don’t think it was quite engaging enough to go to 4 stars, but a solid 3, I would not be opposed to hearing this one again.
It was ok background music, but I didn't find anything that stuck out. Not really an album I'd go back to or recommend to anyone after hearing it.
This is way more interesting than a lot of other stuff on here, and I enjoyed it a lot, too.
Interesting. Different, but not entirely off putting. Kind of relaxing. I don’t know, think it needs a couple more listens, but I’m not sure I’m up for this again.
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.
Not really my thing but a good album nonetheless.
Different…
Interestingly eclectic. This is not an album I would listen to again, but I didn't hate it. I am definitely not the target audience.
First album I genuinely enjoyed in this challenge so far
Whimsical, thoughtful and patient. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good string arrangement, but this was very pleasant.
I’m not sure what I made of this. It felt a bit twee and whimsical to start with but it grew on me as it went on. I might give it another listen.
Really enjoyed this. Catchy tunes without being twee….
A pleasant listen
weird. nice artwork. not an easy listen :)
beautiful and calming music destined to be featured in a movie
Very weird. Some songs sounds more like lovely classical music, but many had screechy, jarring components that were not enjoyable.
3 stars
point9.
6.5/10
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
По мнению А: 3/5 По мнению С: 3/5 ИТОГОВАЯ ОЦЕНКА: 3/5 (08.02.2025)
Interesting. The conceit is almost more entertaining than the music itself. Feels very Cage-ish. I wouldn't be surprised if Neutral Milk Hotel had been influenced by this.
This was a very unique listen. I figured it was going to be unorthodox and musically challenging (which it certainly was, and not in a bad way), but it also had some solid melodic moments that honestly made me want to hear a whole album that was more mainstreamed. I appreciate the boundary pushing, but I just want more excellent simplified music that the group is obviously capable of creating. Top tracks: Penguin Cafe Single, In a Sydney Motel, The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter
Rocked up classical strings - pleasant listening if not my jam.
Meh. Not my thing too soothing and relaxing. Not bad but not my type of music
I want sure what I made of this so I wasn't at all surprised to find out that Brian Eno was involved with it. Some tracks made me want to give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐, some tracks made me want to give it ⭐. Overall, I quite enjoyed it, and I'm going for ⭐⭐⭐.
Lovely to work along too, with the exception of a couple of tracks
pleasant
Chill but uninteresting
I felt like I was listening to the London Philharmonic Orchestra: Cinema’s Greatest world tour album. It was pretty epic no lie.
some songs were really grating and it brings the whole album down quite a lot
If Bluey came out in the 70s this would be its soundtrack. Very quirky, but not particularly interesting.
Once I saw Brian Eno produced this I knew I was a goner
The music is not so bad, but the violin is terrible
I'd have a beer at the Penguin cafe!
Some really beautiful stuff hear, though sometimes marred by less successful sound experiments.
Is it uninteresting? No Is it interesting? Also no
kinda weird
“the sound of someone you love who’s going away and it doesn’t matter” was incredibly emotional and beautiful. it made me cry.
3/5
3.5
Groooovy.. few weird sounds, as Julia would put it, but some noice background music for the work day
I don't really like this album because it doesn't have any words. it is also kinda weird how the song kind of changes towards the end and has a lot of weird notes. I would not recommend it to most people because it isn't a song you would normally listen to.
If you like to lisent to intrumentals then this song would be for you. I like this album because its instrumental, and no lyrics. It has a smooth rhythm like a jumpy happy feeling and I can imagine it being played in like a cafe or library. I would recommend you lisent to it when you're studying, or just want to relax as you do something.
I rate penguin cafe single a 5 star because I like the instruments that are in it and how smooth it is finally the instruments sound nice and beautiful. I rate zopf a 2/5 stars because its not really for me and its just like a song that sounds weird. I rate zopf in hotel a 4 star because the beat is really good and and its beautiful.
Song: penguin cafe the song at first was good but now it is scary and it is weird i liked it before it was scary Song: Zoph i kind of like this song because it was kind of weird Song: Zoph2 i like this song because it is better than the other songs and it actually sounds better than the others i would recommend this one
In my opinion. this album is mid because the instruments sound well, but it just sounds like any other orchestra.
Why is there a penguin on the land it is supost to be in the antacrtica I don't like it because it does not have any words In song's there are supost to be words and i really don't like the beat No i would not recomed the song
I think this music is okay. I like the sound of all the istruments when they are played together but there's no lyrics. I don't like how slow it is, it makes me fall asleep. The song changes from slow to kinda fast and I don't really like that. The songs all sound different but personally I don't like them. I wouldn't listen to this by myself but I would recommend it to people who like orchestra.
Do you like music with not many lyrics? I personally don't. I did not like this album much because it is not my favorite style of music and it also sounds a bit weird. I would recommend this album if you like to listen to songs that sound a bit unusual in a way.
Do you want to listen to some music with a lot of violin playing? well on penguin cafe single it has a lot of violin! I rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ because there is a lot of violin playing and a lot of electric guitar and I think there. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to a song that has some guitar and electric guitar? well in zopf you can! There is a lot of guitar playing and I rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend it. Do you want to listen to some music with some calming guitar? well in zopf in hotel you can! it also has a calming beat to it. I rate it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I highly recommend it!
I didn't like this album because there are barely words and I think it is very boring and all the songs sound the same to me I do not recommend this song because it is boring
Have you wanted to heard old type of music ever? Well then this album is perfect for you. In my opinion, I personally didn't really like this album. The first reason why I didn't really like this album is because of the no lyrics that it has. Another reason why I hate this album is because of the type of music genre it is and I also don't like how the instruments that they used sounded together. I probably would not recommend this album to someone else because in my opinion it's really bad and I wouldn't want some else to hear it and then have to go through the suffering while listening to it.
in my opinion I would not recommend the first one because I just don't like that it doesn't have any words. Second I don't like this type of style of music. Third its kinda weird. The second one I wouldn't recommend either because I don't like the way they mixed the sounds. Second it's just not really my music style. The third one I wouldn't recommend because I think it's too slow. second its boring.
i like the music i would listen to it more if it had lyrics because mostly tie up a song all togeter and it was kinda fast you could say. the second song is kinda just not cool sounding to me overall i woudnt listen again
for the first song it's good i guess because it has music but i don't like how it's so long i kinda like this because of the music and the way it sounds. the second one is better than the first one because it sounds the same and I like it because there is no lyrics the last song sounded kinda sad at the start but I liked all of these
why is it all instrumental. I didnt like this album becasue there no words. 2 reasons i didnt like this album is because theres no words and i dont like this genre of music. I dont reccomend this because its boring
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.
Why is there a half human, half penguin on the cover? I did not like this because it didn't have any words. I also didn't like it because it just sounded like a lot of the same stuff repeating over and over. In the middle of the song it just stopped and got weird, it almost sounded like a song in a horror movie. I would rate it only one star. I would not recommend it because it's just really weird and has no lyrics to it.
It was weird, generally enjoyable music, I like the classical vibe to the tunes. It added just enough pop elements to keep me going. Everything about this music clicked when I checked the release date as 1976, jives well with the drugs I assume they were taking when this was made. Well done penguins
How delightfully odd. I am not entirely sure what that was or who it is for, but I enjoyed it.
Pleasant, interesting and weird.
A bizarre follow through that still has an avant-garde approach to the common listener.
Maybe if you have a master's in music or something, this is great to listen too. But since I'm a basic bitch when it comes to music, this was a good to get through.
weird but not in the way i like could i write poetry to this? n
It's best to be leery when Wikipedia shows an album's only accolade to be its inclusion on this list. Whatever this New Age noodling is, it certainly isn't my cup of tea.
I enjoyed this. Never had heard them before
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
This is an excellent album and this list needs more records like this on it.
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
Highlights: Penguin Cafe Single, Giles Farnaby's Dream. In a nutshell: the soundtrack of a penguin wandering around a field. This is close as we'll get to a classical album from this list, so we should cut the editor some slack. It's instrumental, baroque, chamber pop(ish), avant garde, kinda folk? It reminds me of VU&N, Sufjan Stevens, and a little bit of Mike Oldfield. Overall: 4/10
"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.
Nice and chilled
Odd music. Some pieces were good and sounded concerto-like. But too many odd tracks
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.
God awful.
Solid. Super enjoyable. Chill.
Charming
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
This is what I came to the 1001 for. I have no idea who or what Penguin Cafe Orchestra is, but that was very fun and unique and sonically pleasing. Fave tracks: Penguin Cafe Single, most of the Zopf suite, Chartered Flight 4.5/5
Unique in the mid 70's for giving more space for classical / folk music in a rock and funk dominated world, this was a good start for the Penguin Cafe! Not my favorite work from them, but a big step in the right direction.
2.7 3x
Meine bisher überraschendste Neuentdeckung in diesem Projekt.
Okay, so, before they were let loose in a recording studio, I think that someone should have told these guys that an assortment of random sounds made with musical instruments does not necessarily constitute "music". Furthermore, when such random cacophonies interrupt those few moments where the musicians artistry actually shines through, it makes for an album that's notable only for its weirdness. Needless to say, if I feel like going out for a few drinks and to listen to some cool music, the Penguin Cafe is a venue that I'll surely avoid, especially if I have to strip and wear a penguin's head to gain entry.
At first I thought this was the new greatest thing, but it devolved into a somewhat experimental and indifferent thing after a while. The orchestra parts were fine, the lyrical bits... I don't see the connection so well. They try to bring you on progressive journeys through the music but I am a HUGE prog fan and have ten thousand techno and rock songs that do this better. It is not that they are a bad band or have no good qualities! They are quirky for sure, and interesting in their own right. But outside a couple of songs, I am likely to not go too nuts with buying their albums...
Interesting classical style album with interesting arrangements
Well, that was different. Like a palate cleanser in a 50-course meal at a Henry IV banquet. 3 for audio refreshment. What’s next?
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.
Some highs, some lows, but always interesting
Actually pretty pleasant background ambience
Okay. Not my taste
It is so rare when I find myself listening to an album that I never want to end. I loved every moment of this and was utterly deflated when it came to a close.
‘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.
Strange, not quite rock.
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
This was interesting, I did like some songs though. Funny album cover too.
I really enjoy their music. This album is not perfect, but I complemented it with their NPR Tiny Desk presentation and for sure it deserves a 5.
This album feels like it’s trying to do two different things, and consequently does neither of them well. The attempt to be artsy takes away from what would otherwise be inoffensive coffee shop music.
Music from The Penguin Cafe is the first studio album by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, originally released in 1976. This was a super weird one to find on this list, and I love that it was included. It wasn't a super obvious pick, yet it wasn't the token "British post-punk" pick either. This album is sort of a neo-classical, avant-garde journey. The band members play instruments you wouldn't expect to see in an ensemble like this: Fender Rhodes, Violin, Electric Guitar, Cello, etc. Each song sounds completely different. The songs can range from industrial avant-garde to minimal ambient. The recordings themselves have a very spacey feeling to them. I'm sure the Brian Eno production aided in that. Some of the song ideas feel a little half-baked, and I wasn't really feeling the vocals at this time - maybe listening under the influence of a leafy substance would make it better. Nonetheless, I'm really glad this was included on the list so I had a chance to listen to it. Would've never stumbled across this album on my own.
I’d never heard of this album before and didn’t know what to expect. Absolutely beautifully bonkers brilliance
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.
I had never heard of Penguin Cafe Orchestra and had no idea what to expect going in. Music tagged as 'experimental' sometimes has me weary because it's often either pure wankery or the creator was obviously trying too hard to make something unusual but this comes across as sincere, like they really were just trying things to see how they sounded. It's pretty bizarre, but there's a simplistic and sober beauty to parts, like Giles Farnaby's Dream, a jolly little ditty, contrasted with some quite awkward and maybe even unsettling moments (Milk and Pigtail come to mind) A challenging listen, but I enjoyed it. I can't imagine 'I want to listen to Music From The Penguin Cafe' will pop into my head too often so I'll give it a 3.5. Also, I love the album cover Highlights: Giles Farnaby's Dream, The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and it Doesn't Matter
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 don't mind the instrumental track here and there, but a whole album of it is going to be a bit much. Even if it were really good, I don't think I could rate a mostly instrumental album more than a 4, and this one isn't even that good. It's dull and weird. Just like ambient sounds with a little strangeness thrown in. A couple tracks have some good parts, but then go back to the weirdness. Best song: From The Colonies
Unlike any of the albums I've had so far on this list. I didn't totally vibe with it but I think it might have just been my mood. I'll be adding it to my list to check out again in the future.
Feels like a very earnest, very 1970s attempt to try and elevate elevator music. But if high concept muzak ain't your bag, your patience will be tested. However, as someone who enjoys David Vorhaus, the Plantasia album, Gryphon, David Grisman and many others working in what could be deemed avant-kitsch, I have time for this.
soundtrack
Not an album I’ll ever go back to. I have some “challenging” music in my collection, but this was too much for me.
I only liked "The Sound of Someone You Love..." until halfway through it went into its weird sound. Not really a fan of things that aren't smooth.
This one is a firm 3 1/2. I really liked it. However, that may not be represented in my collection
I liked this way more than I expected after reading the description. Perfect background music with just enough to draw your interest back in.
it’s decent but not engaging
this is an incredibly difficult album to rate. i don’t know that’s it’s really a 5 but anything else feels wrong. this album just did so much stuff that i’ve never really heard before in this specific way. the jumps from almost atonal stuff to some of the sweetest melodies out there was just magical. will be talking about this for a while and that is what brings it to a 5
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.
I like penguins but I don't like this album. It's too experimental which sometimes works but mostly fails miserably.
Super weird but enjoyable listen.
Never heard of these Penguins before. Strangely familiar for some reason. I’ll check’em out next time I go to the Zoo.
People just did whatever in the 70s... Amazing cover though!
For a chunk of this album I was waiting for a delayed bus, and it made me feel like I was in the sad bit of a Richard Curtis movie. Fuck this album.
a chamber quartet that fell into bad company
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 like some good ambient stuff so this was a solid listen.
This was a tough listen, basically just music you'd expect to play in snippets in a lift. Either koffis finger slipped and he added this by accident, or koffi isn't anything to do with this and it's really the penguin cafe orchestra behind it all. I'm not sure which one of those 2 I'm least happy with.
Very odd album this. It’s sort of chamber pop but with classical, folk and prog mixed in. I don’t hate it, but I can’t say I particularly like it either. Some of the melodies are pretty nice, some not so much, and some of it seems purposefully obtuse. I’m glad I’ve listened to it as it’s like nothing else I’ve ever heard, but I don’t think I’ll be sticking it on again. Highlight: Penguin Cafe Single, The sound of someone you love whose going away but it doesn’t matter Lowlight: Zopf: Milk, Zopf: Pigtail
Didn't hate it. Found it quite relaxing and a bit weird which I don't mind on a Sunday morning. Sounded like something my girl Cerys would play on her 6Music show. Hard to do an indepth review as it was very much background music whilst I pottered around the house. The kids found it quite funny as they were eating their scrambled eggs on toast and trying to get their heads round the oddness. They enjoyed it though and was funny hearing their impressions of it. Standouts: The opening track is the closest to a song so I guess that one Low Points: Thought the album got really great at the end but then I realised it had finished and was playing Brian Eno instead.
I’d heard the first track previously and enjoyed it this time. The rest of it wasn’t my cup of tea. It went off piste far too often for it to be an enjoyable listen. Struggling to think of a situation where you’d want to listen to it.
Biisit kuulostaa covereilta, mutta ei taida olla… Itse asiasssa yllätin itseni viihtymästä. Humoristista sopivalla tavalla. Huomaa tosin elektronisen (klassisen) musiikin nousun, noi synat kilisee. Tarpeeksi vähän kyllä. Maija Poppasta mutta onneks ei fiftari.
Kun tämä alkoi, ajattelin: kuulostaa ihan "kivalta". Ja tällä tavalla piru houkuttelee syntisiä. Onneksi vajosin omiin ajatuksiini ja ihan vain unohdin houkutuksen - lukuun ottamatta paria hienoista mielenkiinnon/ärtymyksen hetkeä.
Det var inte obehagligt. Det var helt okej. Säkert guld för en som gillar den här typen av musik. Jag kände bara inte att jag behöver höra mer. Fast det är kanske det som krävs. Några fler lyssningar sen är man fast. Lyssnade igen men det blev inte bättre.
Supercrazy. Men det låter för det mesta som filmmusik som man inte riktigt noterar. Det är verkligen inte speciellt trots försök att vara megaudda. Det är inte musik man aktivt vill lyssna på känner jag.
Nja jag vetefan, det här plingiplongandet var inget höjdare.
The songs may be performed well, but this album just wasn’t for me. Luckily, it’s quite short, so that at least saves it from being a 1*
Exactly what I could hear in a coffee shop held by penguins. Sounds chic, but shallow
Ok?
In the right mood, I could love this. I was not in the right mood listening to this the first time. Very funky though.
Well done avant-garde shit. Conceptually cool in how it ties in to the band’s ridiculous name as well, though it’s not something I see myself retuning to all that often
Yeah, no. I liked a few songs at first, then they just went weird with it. Won't listen to it again.
i wrote a long diatribe fueled by weed and wine that i accidentally deleted. i liked this album.
There was a time in my life when I preferred this type of music over all. Now I look for different genres, but I still like this.
This was an absolute delight.
Nyt onkin sit erikoinen teos, mutta Brian Eno on ollut tekemässä mikä selittää. The Sound Of Someone You Love Who jne oli kyllä tosi hieno instrumentaali. Levy muutenkin instrumentaalista, ambientsävyistä ja klassissävyistä elokuvamusiikkia :D Ja alku vähän vekkulimpaa. Parhaat: Tuo nimihirviö, Hugebaby, Chartered Flight
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.
Correcto. Raro
Experimental music using an orchestra. It grew on me. 4/5