Music From The Penguin Cafe

Kind of like subdued prog rock with some wobbly singing here and there, this mid-70s album from the UK is pleasant enough but lacks both the strong melodies or the experimental flair that would make it memorable.

Another of those I'll likely never go back to, but this was a nice listen punctuated with moments of complete strangeness. I liked it.

I feel no need to listen to this ever again.

Look I am a band kid but I really lost the plot with some of these songs. I am sure this group is more interesting in their live performances. 2 stars.

interesting but not my jam

Incredible name. Even better album cover. But soooo not for me.

Why?

If you told me this was a contemporary, procedurally generated, AI OST to a Minecraft mod. I would totally believe that. If I saw it in a charity shop I would pick it up on the name and album cover. Still, 2 points

Interesting. I liked it.

Penguins are fun, where was the fun it sounded tragic throughout

Mostly sounds like the soundtrack to a gentle early 80s sitcom set at a retirement home in Vermont, but then occasionally a deranged former avant garde artist gets a hold of the Casiotone for a minute. Laffs ensue.

I can be quite a fan of orchestral stuff but for some reason I wasn’t a fan of this and I really wanted to be because hello the penguin cafe orchestra, can it get any more fun than that !?!

"Semi-acoistic chamber music", decent in the background

Felt like I was listening to some version of the same song on repeat

Artsy

Pleasant. Pleasant orchestration with non-traditional instruments; bongos, ukulele, washboard, etc. The Ecstasy Of Dancing Fleas, are the dancing fleas in ecstasy? Or is it the observers of this wee circus? Or both? Either way, it’s the top track. Penguin Cafe Orchestra comes in at (2.48*s) Pleasant like a cup of lukewarm warm tea…

I think I recognize the opening track from these penguins. Not bad "classical" music that added a little spice to the baroque style. It's a weird album with some good tracks but also gets slow and boring at times. Not surprising Eno had a hand in it. Would not have expected this on the 1001 list but not mad about it...1.7 stars.

Not a bad entry for 1001. Unfamiliar with Penguin Cafe Orchestra and doubt I would have been exposed to them otherwise. What I got was mostly pleasant jazz fusion or whatever this genre qualifies as. Nothing special but I also wasn't upset in any way to listen to this. Decent background music to turn your brain off to. Some silly racy penguin artwork on their albums doesn't hurt I guess. 2.24 stars

Meh. Been getting a lot of nothing burgers lately…

Had moments but it was too weird and jarring for me.

Muzak 2/5

Okay sounding for - well - a cafe background, would not repeat listening to it a second time.

Weird Classic stuff with chembalo aber bis auf dass der Name witzig ist ist es sonst eher nervig..

Wikipedia's best guess at the genre: "Pop, chamber music, minimalism, avant-folk, chamber jazz, modern classical." Yeah, nobody knows what this is even supposed to be. Bonus star for the album cover where the crow is mansplaining something to the penguin, though.

definitely counts as noise

A handful of lovely moments but way too much aimless noodling, a record which doesn’t seem to have worked out for itself what the point is yet. Might have made a nice EP.

Weird but not weird enough.

I hate rating experimental music low, because I feel like it makes me seem like I can't handle it, but I just found this one to be mostly boring. The male vocalist is terrible, all of the songs feel super slow like they are being stretched out, and a lot of the zopf song feel half baked. There are some good ideas here and there though. I like a lot of the strong parts and the female singer is good. There are very few songs with a harpsichord that don't feel cringe. High 2.

Had some beautiful lines but generally too avant garde

Maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places for new music

ok

Background music.

Another one of those that makes me think the list should be 750 albums, or 501 albums. Not bad, but nothing i would ever seek out again.

Interesting, but not enough so

Bit bland for my taste. Kept waiting for it to kick up a notch but never did. There’s a few moments where it turns slightly sinister, but not often or for long enough. The whole thing put me in mind of a 70s sitcom… Will probably never revisit.

- nyt vaikuttaa erikoiselta - ja onkii vähä erikoista - en mä tätä välttämättä uudelleen kuuntelis mutta propsit erikoismeiningistä

A bit out there but it didn’t bother me.

17/1001 First listen. This one is unknown to me but seeing Brian Eno’s involvement made me optimistic. It was okay. Maybe another star if I spent more time with it. I’ll come back to this sometime though.

I always liked that long song and thought I should check out the rest of the album. I didn't miss anything.

I feel like I’m missing something…

Upbeat and fun at times but mostly giving melancholic vibes. It’s as if Glass, Eno and Fripp formed a chamber pop band obsessed with manic depression and suicide.

Странная хуйня

Paguine da frontian ulavune int um tee, orkesta u pam trea munda va indrollaget vu poft.

1. penguin - 1.5 2. coloniez - 1.5 3. motel - 2 4. surface - 2 5. Milk -1 6. Coronation - 1.5 7. Dream - 1.5 8. Sound - 2 9. Baby - 1.5 10. Flight -1

The rejected score for an episode of Randall & Hopkirk Deceased

Hmmm album you need to listen to before you die ??? Not sure about this one… it’s hard to describe … it sounds a little like a soundtrack to a PBS or “after school” movie. I listen to a lot of instrumental music but usually there is some virtuosity being displayed… this was like an album Of elevator music … pleasant enough, competent playing… but I kept asking “why?” 2 stars

This is an odd album. Very few vocals, eclectic instruments, and lots of dissonance. It almost seems more like a movie soundtrack than an album. It's just ok. Some of the themes are good, but overall it gets to be grating after awhile. I would not listen again, but glad to have heard it once.

Some orchestra songs. 2.5 not for me.

If it’s not country or jazz it’s fucking penguins. This list man….

Remind me to never go to the Penguin Cafe

I guess the tunes aren't bad but I'm in stark disagreement that this belongs on any curated best of style albums list. I don't understand why I'm listening to this.

i really wanted to like this (especially because one of my friends had sent me another one of their albums 2 years ago and i enjoyed it) but i just don’t :( a little too psychosis-inducing for me. also, The Sound Of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away And It Doesn’t Matter actually made me cry in the bus

This was fine, but weird and I don’t really get it. Brian Eno is great, maybe this had to be done to propel him to greatness?

харесвам шантави неща, ама това ми напомня на объркването ми като дете като се пусне нещо неразбираемо да слушам

This is a bit of a weird record to my ears, I want to like it but it doesn't connect with me, I guess it just feels a bit esoteric, austere, maybe just simply cold? The follow-up is so much better

This album was nothing more than Muzak.

Would not buy.

Really weird in a good way. 2/5

This was way too chill for me in a way?

This is a fun little oddity and there are a few really good songs on it, but it isn't really an essential listen

This was very strange to me especially the milk song. There were some disturbing, eery sounds, but I get that it’s by design. All that being said, I did enjoy most of it. Wasn’t the worst in the world, but I like music with vocals and without weird noises.

Sounds like a weird carnival soundtrack.

Seriously, why is this in this list?!

Like the idea of free flowing experimental minimalist music but not enough to hold my attention here

Penguin Cafe Orchestra is doing a lot. It may be doing too much. There’s no one element, in the band or the orchestra that grabs me, and all together at points I even find it off putting. Dialled down a bit it could be a nice background piece. What I can say for it though is that it sounds very modern for 1976.

Boring

omg ich wett au is pinguin café bis jz erinnerets mich chli ah musig wo im menü vomene game spielt. eig na gmüetlich, au wenn sich mier d wichtigkeit vom ganze nöd ganz erschlüsst (ussert natürlich, dass de brian emo sini finger im spiel gha het) joo iwie findis eifach chli langwilig? und es chönnt vill schöner sii mite striicher aber weiss nöd milk wenigstens chli speziell aber seeehr ahstrengend HAHAHAH giles dream erinneret mich ah das einte rayman spiel wo d salomé und ich amigs uf de wii gspielt hend pigtail fantastisch, grosse fan (hans ghasst) the sound of someone you love that's going away and it doesn't matter findi actually no schön! (sicher auchli wegem titel) find na cool, dass es immer wieder ufs gliche thema zruggchunnt glaub das album würd mier eso vill besser gfalle, zwar langi songs, defür vill meh ufd atmosphäre und zemmehäng bedacht statt 2-3 minütigi quirky "lieder" ok hugebaby lustige titel hahahaha hä allgemein die 3 letschte hend mier denn doch no recht gfalle, wiso isch zopf so scheisse gsi? eso wirds vlt knapp es 2

My, my, how the Mary Poppins penguins have fallen. Jolly Holiday to video game music. It was not the worst I've listened to, but it was weird and I'd be okay not listening to it again. 2 stars

This is probably pretty unfair of me, because I actually did quite like a few tracks on this album, but so much of it just bored me to tears. Several of the songs seem to go nowhere. Maybe this is better listened to as background music. I will say, it's always nice to hear the electric piano, it's a nostalgic sound for me. To be honest I was probably too tired to appreciate this properly, I may have to listen to it again. Can't see it getting a much better rating, though.

Some nice moments but a little too scattered

Snelle inhaal review #21: Dit valt denk niet te behappen met een enkele luisterbeurt. Het klonk op sommige momenten wel heel cutesy en vrolijk, maar andere moment bleef het volledig niet hangen.

Perfect album bij een koude winterse avond, boekje bij het haardvuur. Helaas is het hartje zomer, is er geen tijd om te lezen en heb ik geen openhaard

speziell gsi. esch wök so ochester style aber meistens ned so abgspacet und no easy. aber halt nor meistens. schlussendlich het zemli jede song meh oder wenig eppis komisches gha imo. het aber au sini moment gha. ewie no nice experience gsi zum inishc lose, aber wöri ned weder lose

Not for me.

This was pretty avant-garde or something. It sounded good but a bit strange and ambient.

this was a bit mad, some of the songs you could kind of start getting into and then they'd just change direction, bit too wacky for me

It was interesting, but not much more than that.

It's ok. Kind of same-y throughout. Sounds like background music. First song reminded me of a tv theme maybe. I didn't really find anything annoying, but nothing stood out at all. Can't imagine a time anyone would say, "You know what we should listen to right now? Penguin Cafe!"

"The Sound of Someone You Love" er et virkelig fint instrumentalnummer. Resten er mere meh, men det er klart instrumentalnumrene i starten og slutningen af pladen, der fungerer bedst.

Perhaps could have been a 3. I appreciate the idea of a quirky, mostly instrumental album but I just found this to be a bit too boring. Don’t think I’ll be revisiting, hence the 2

It’s alright, a little more modernized orchestral arrangements; just not my thing.

Avant garde easy listening? What even the hell is this? It’s not offensive to the ears exactly, but it’s doing nothing for me.

# Album Name: Music from the penguin cafe # Artist: Penguin Cafe Orchestra # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Opens with the iconic penguin cafe single. Its a brilliant song. The rest of the album is pretty meh. Its quite out there and im not sure it exactly works if im honest. Mixed feelings on this one. Initially i am torn on this one. # Top Tunes: penguin cafe # Would I listen to it again? Yes, ill give it a second shot.

It’s okay - Although a little weird at times. I don’t know when I would put it on though

Felt like I was missing a visual while listening. I had vibes of a soundtrack to one of those quirky silent animations for kids where there’s an animal that acts curious and peculiar.

5.8/10

Initially intrigued, but interest faded very fast. I love weird and alternative shit, but this did not hit the right spots for me

Ok, creativo pero no creo que vuelva a escucharlo, pero no era mal álbum la verdad.

Not my vibe tbh. Not quite elevator music but not far off. It isn’t crap - I’m not just into this kind of ambiant music

I did not expect this. After this album played I kept listening to 🐧 and I liked some of their other songs a lot more than those listed here. There were some on this I enjoyed but overall it was a little too avant garde for my enjoyment. Glad I listened to it, enjoyed it somewhat, but not a fave. This coming out so early I can see the influence as well. Apparently they were quite popular in their niche

I liked The Sound of Someone You Love but found the album as a whole quite hard to listen to. Tried it a couple times and just couldn’t really get into it. But my favorite discovery is finding Perpetuum Mobile (on a later album). This is not only a great, really rhythmically interesting song in its own right, but it was sampled as the main hook on Avicii’s Fade Into Darkness. Love finding these connections.

Many of the songs felt familiar. Added a handful to my instrumental playlist; not sure I'll ever revisit the album though.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Okay

Nikakav efekt. Previše smireno.

Mostly nonsense, but some of it is beautiful.

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.

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.

A good album cover is wasted for an hour of seriously boring music. 2 stars or D-.

I just didn't enjoy it.

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.

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.

Not my thing

84/1089 - Sounds like your average classical composition major senior recital. I didn't enjoy this.

maybe if I was on a lot of drugs

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

Sadder than Sad Cafe

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.

Not my cup of tea really, was expecting more from this band

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

Very weird. Some songs sounds more like lovely classical music, but many had screechy, jarring components that were not enjoyable.

point9.

Chill but uninteresting

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

Is it uninteresting? No Is it interesting? Also no

kinda weird

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

Strange, not quite rock.

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.

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.

it’s decent but not engaging

I like penguins but I don't like this album. It's too experimental which sometimes works but mostly fails miserably.

People just did whatever in the 70s... Amazing cover though!

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.

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

Yeah, no. I liked a few songs at first, then they just went weird with it. Won't listen to it again.

Correcto. Raro

Most songs here are pointless and boring, but inoffensive. Zopf: Milk is annoying. Mostly instrumental pieces, none of which move me, even though I appreciate the violin throughout. The Sound of Someone You Love… is okay, nice background music until the violin takes a left turn

This is a cheesy 90s movie soundtrack. pirate penguin ninja laser beams I'm so random omg pew pew

I tried but nope. I don’t get it.

Best Song: The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter. Maybe the most "coherent" track on the album. Feels buoyed by its title, which really does evoke a very specific emotion that you can then try to interpret from the track. Worst Song: Zopf: Milk. You can really feel the "experimental" here. This is music in a technical, literal sense, but is also just sucks to listen to. Chaos for chaos-sake. Overall: Not altogether unpleasant background music, even if it does take an ugly and unnecessary descent into experimentalism in the middle. Can't imagine in what context I would want to listen to it again though.

I would rather watch happy feet

Mfs really said "lets make a concept album" with no concept of what they were doing (idk if it is a concept album but it must be because of the goofy ahh songs they have on here)

I feel nothing towards this. Milk and Pigtail are the best tracks !

Interesting

Started out fairly interesting but the further into it I got the weirder it became until it reached the point of nonsense on occasion. Afterwards I researched it and saw Brian Eno was affiliated with it and it all made sense.

I'm somewhat familiar with Penguin Cafe, but not this album. The tracks here seem much more experimental and at time a little irritating (e.g. "Zopf: Milk", and "The Sounds Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter"). The rest of the album is decent, but I think it comes off as a disappointment to me because I like their other work so much more, the stuff that is more orchestral and chill. Interesting that it was produced by Brian Eno. I guess that fits.

Not bad, per say. Just back ground music.

Interesting, but I guess you have to be in the mood for it to really appreciate it. I wasn't.

this was like listening to clips from movie soundtracks - not altogether unpleasant, but I'd never buy this cd. I'd never heard of them

Hmmmm, I'm not sure about this one. Milk is quirky, and Pigtail was catchy. I did enjoy The Sound of Someone Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter...although, to me, it sounded like it mattered.

Ganska svårröstat. Lite för experimentellt emellanåt. En stark tvåa

I don't really get it.

Niet slecht, maar ook niet goed. Teveel muzikaal behang, alle nummers erna door Spotify klonken hetzelfde.

Indeed, a relaxing cafe vibe

2/5 whatever

Something something Wes Anderson soundtrack something. Cover art 8/10. (ntm.)

This is exactly the kind of pretentious wank from the 1970s I should like. But it's just annoying and tuneless and souless.

Not really what I was expecting. Pretty boring.

Great album cover, bad music. 1.5

This is the first time I can recall a pop/orchestral/classical album listed. It's fine for background music.

Album cover is awesome and had better hopes for it. 2.5 stars

why

nooo ._.

Why? Never heard of this. Background music and nothing more.

This was fine background music but I don’t know why this album needs to be here or what its significance is. High 2.

I was looking for more penguins. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5

Lovely at parts, others not so much. Never been a huge fan of the advante-garde scene, so we when enter that phase of the album on ‘In a Sydney Motel’ and ‘Milk’, it kinda lost me. But all in all, it’s got some decent parts. Probably a 2.5 for me, but not enough to push to a three. All that said, one of the coolest album arts we’ve had.

I tried with the Penguin Cafe orchestra in my pretentious teenage faze and like now I couldn’t quite connect.

boring and weird.

Not particularly stand out classical type music. Just sorta there as background noise. No wonder I never heard of it.

Very interesting. I am glad I listened to it but I will probably never hear it again

Brian Eno is a fraud and must be stopped

I recognize the album art for some reason, but no idea why… This album has been more enjoyable than any of the other purely instrumental albums we have listened to so far, in my opinion. It has a feeling of light heartedness and whimsy, which takes me away from the problems of the real world. Oh, I guess there is also singing (From the Colonies), which is very depressing. I liked the lighthearted parts, but could barely make it through some of the terrible squeaking on string instruments. Just… why?

Definitely preferred it to the preceding album. Kinda felt like a anime soundtrack. Some of the melodies felt familiar, which made me enjoy it even more. I’m kind of tempted to make it a 3, but this is 1001 albums - gotta come harder.

Sometimes it was a movie score, sometimes it was background music at a wedding, and sometimes it was beeps and boops. Why is this on the list? A two because the album artwork made me chuckle.

I want to like this a lot more than I do. It’s experimental, avant-garde classical pop which should theoretically appeal to me. But at its best, Penguin Cafe sounds boring or mildly pleasant, and at worst it’s harsh on the ears. At least other experimental groups like the Residents or Throbbing Gristle put some humor into what they do. Penguin Cafe on Brian Eno’s record label just really doesn’t inspire me.

Uhm huh

Started off decent enough, than vocals started and it immediately went full cringe. Not the worst British album that didn't deserve a spot on this list, but still pretty bad.

Nice music but grey

this is an album i wish contained no vocals! they weren't remarkable and were kind of drone-y. the music by itself could be good. some parts were jaunt-y or jazz-y or just plain pretty, but then you'd get such jarring violin screeches and my goodness. i don't think there was one song i liked completely, because the penguin cafe orchestra saw fit to ruin at least some part of each song.

I made the mistake of listening to this strange, ambient album right after listening to a strange, ambient Brian Eno album. So I think i was already all ambient-ed out. In any case, this didn't resonate with me as much, unfortunately. Love the album cover, though.

‘The sound of someone you love’ was very nice but the start of the album had an almost creepy quality

Yacht rock music and Eno soundscapes.

Aprecio la intención y sin duda que es un disco digno de escuchar al menos una vez.

Avant-garde but not for me. I'm sure it's influential but I wouldn't listen to it again.

Pleasant enough as background music, but can't really see myself revisiting often. (2.4)

Pretty sure I have heard a few of these on hold with AT&T or walking into a wedding reception. Abstract and somewhat interesting. Situational for sure, but it was not terrible. 2/5 1/5

Its fine. A good listen and interesting. Just not sure why it stands out.

Sounds like a bunch of themes to BBC light entertainment programs. Not unpleasant, but not something to actively listen to either. OK to have on in the background as it doesn't disturb me while I'm working.

not too bad . kinda boring

Snoozefest

Meh

I like the cover art and a couple of the song titles and I sort of like Giles Farnaby's Dream. That's about it.

It was ok. I had it on in the background whilst working and I mainlyt forgot it was there.

As advertised

Really really enjoyed the first song and added it to my favorites. The rest of the album was good as background music but won't be revisiting anytime soon.

Eclectic and interesting but not something I am likely to seek out.

Rating: 3.5/10 Mostly boring and overly meandering. This album is very unfocused, there is no clear theme musically. This should have been completely instrumental, the vocals totally threw me off and did not fit well with the music. The only consistent theme is the use of orchestral elements but every song feels so random; it feels like they wrote 11 songs with orchestral elements and called it an album instead of crafting something with purpose. Despite all of these faults, I found two songs to be great and there were a decent bit of good ideas on here, even though most of it seemed pointless. Favorite songs: Penguin Cafe Single, Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream, parts of The Sound of Someone You Love... Worst songs: the rest of the Zopf songs.

Very avant garde. At times melodic but at other times less accessible.

Idk how to feel sometimes chill sometimes v unnerving

Surprisingly good. I liked some more than others. Will listen to it again. Possibly.

strange

jaaa chammer mache, bin nid wück en fan

Only instrumental music. Some of the songs are reachable to everyone, but others are not that much.

Too weird for me

Wasn't the worst thing I have heard but that doesn't make it good.

Not for me.

p366. 1976. 2 stars. Sounds like the incidental music from failed BBC sitcoms of the 1970s. Background noise for cheese and wine parties. Technically well done, but insipid and dull.

I didn't mind most of this, though I don't particularly enjoy when an otherwise good if not weird song descends into noise making for no good reason in the middle. I am ten thousand percent positive that wayne coyne lyrics and vocals would make every single track a certified banger. i think i expected the flaming lips to show up on every single track.

A shame that the best track here was the last one - Chartered Flight - the rest of it was fairly grim.

Weird

Found to be very boring and not very good driving music.

I don't know. It was different, and I get why people would like it. It's good music to ignore in the background. To me it sounds like the soundtrack to a lost Mario video game where all the main characters are just standing around because they stepped in a glue trap...and that's the game.

Struggled to capture my attention

This album started off alright. The first song was a classical instrumental that was enjoyable and had some nice rhythm. It dragged on a bit and seemed to repeat itself but still okay. Then the second song hit. The singer and lyrics really blew me away at how quickly I could go from liking something to disliking it. So morose and tone deaf. Everything after that was just meh too. A shame since it started so well. 3.9/10

Maybe too experimental for my mood today. Very unnecessary on this list.

One beautiful track in "The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter" is not worth the price of admission alone. Much here consists of exercises in 'listenability' - is this pushing the envelope? Maybe. Do I want to listen to it? Maybe not.

sounds like a wes anderson score kinda all over the place stylistically.

Well that was....different. Interesting mix of haunting and uplifting. Favorite track: Penguin Cafe Single

Orchestral chamber music that paradoxically sounds both proggy and baroque. There are moments of experimentation and moments of serenity. Not much stood out on the first half. “The Sound of Someone You Love…” is very pretty. It takes some interesting turns in the second half of the song though - almost sounding like a horror movie score for a bit. That’s that proggy side of the music coming out. Not bad but didn’t do much for me.

Weird name, weird music.

Didn’t really get this one. A measly 2*

Sadly didn't live up to the promise of the cover art

Weird

1. Creating a new apartment in the Sims 2. Just some random *twang twang twang* 3. My head hurts 4. Sudden teleportation to a classical music concert 5. Is that a museum of contemporary art in Dusseldorf? Someone left the kettle on at the end! 6. Why is it in here? 7 & 9. Those are actually nice! 8. Aliens are visiting or dialing a number on an old phone. 10. Looped sample. 11. And once again we're playing the Sims. Overall - I'm confused. That's not pop music!!!

Well.. yeah... The only exceptional thing about this album is it's oddity. Beggining was promissing but next songs went all over the place. It almost does not feel like album.

Boring jazz

Brian Eno music continues not to be for me. Didn’t enjoy the listen

There is some excellent stuff in here, but it is scattered in with a whole bunch of garbage.

Not for me.

I enjoyed parts of it. On track towards the end reminded me of an instrumental version of ‘Annie’s Song’

A bit dreary. I don't mind the idea but it wears thin quite quickly.

Not sure about this, it's pleasant enough on the ears but it's experimental without being at any point exciting. Feels like it's been made by people who aren't quite as clever as they think they are (or maybe are just so much cleverer than me that I've missed the point). 2/5.

Hmm yeah okay. Not a fan.

This is actually kind of dull. There aren't any tracks that I would save or any theme that would make me want to listen to the entire album again. It's just Brian Eno-style "experimental" fucking around for 45 minutes. 2/5

Well that was freaking weird

It sounds good but the pure instrumentals just doesen't grab me that much.

First of all, I like the name and the cover, very funny. Secondly, with some songs I can even imagine Penguins walking by with their little steps 😂

What is this. I did not enjoy it. Best song: Penguin Cafe Single???

Just so boring

No thanks, not for me.

I'm unclear as to why this album is one that I needed to listen to before I die. It's a quirky enough (mostly) instrumental album, I suppose. But is it really that impressive? I guess it's avant-garde enough to be annoying so maybe that means it's important to someone? I see that Brian Eno got his hands on it and things make more sense now. Low 2-stars.

Mest instrumentellt album, frontat av Simon Jeffes och utgivet av Brian Eno's experimentella skivbolag. Vissa låtar är Brian Enoskt "ambient" och stämningsfulla. Medan andra, de flesta, är gitarrplonkande, experimentella, och lite knasiga på det där störiga sättet. Känns som meningen är att det ska låta lekfullt och lättsamt, men blir i stället bara ploj. För det kan låta bra också, som de tre låtarna på B-sidan gör. Bäst och vackrast är 11:46 långa'The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter', som är precis vad det låter som. Ett album som hade varit bättre om det tagit sig själv mer seriöst. Men, i ärlighetens namn är inte topparna skyhöga heller. Bästa låt: The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter.

Classic music? or??? I like how it is experimenting with the various instruments. A bit weird though.

Strange psychedelic 70s moments. Good to work to Fairly unforgettable Decent classical music with a twist

This record should be renamed, "let's fuck around for an hour playing same sounding songs." It's not bad actually. But there is nothing here.

This is the background music of a gallery opening for a friend of a friend. You're attending to support your original friend, but you're desperately hanging out near the open bar and waiting for it to be over. Thankfully, you only have to be there for 45 minutes, and your alarm is set. Also, they have canapés.

I don't have much to say about this. Hardcore background music.

Some interesting stuff in here but there’s definitely some intonation/ tuning things that bothered me

Some ok moments but very forgettable

There were parts I really liked (see: Hugebaby) and parts that were weird (see: Pigtails). Don't have to listen again. Special shoutout to song name: The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Away and it Doesn't Matter.

Well that was odd, there were some elements I liked but it was a bit all over the place, seems an odd choice for this list.

Some of this was pleasant as background music, but it was forgettable. Sorry penguins, should stick to swimming and fishing.

This was different! I found it a bit weird to be honest. There were parts of songs which I thought were really nice, but then other parts that were hard to listen to and abrasive. They are probably telling a story or something and Im too basic to appreciate it. The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter (quite a title) was really nice in for the most part and the best track but again it got weird towards the end and I thought it ruined it.

Yeah, no.

Well, it's different. Not sure I'd bother to listen to it again.

What in hell? alrighty then. The opening track loses its way about half way and then finds itself again. Great now these weird assholes are now singing about milk. Produced by professional weirdo Brian Eno. The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter is a pretty soothing song 3 minutes in and so far its my favorite on the album. you know the last 3 tracks were quite nice and pleasant. Zopf can fuck right off a bridge.

Noodley, interesting in parts. Fun instrumentation. But generally didn't really grab me.

'The Sound Of Someone You Love Who Is Going Away And It Doesn't Matter' is the clear standout on this album and also its redemption. It's no wonder at 11:46!! That keyboard is just a delight tickling all the keys in your brain and 'strings make everybody feel everything'. It's a gorgeous and lush song--until they drive it off the god damned cliff 7 and a 1/2 minutes in. Hugebaby is also good and they manage not to fuck it up. Chartered Flight is fair. I could do with less standup bass plucking.

That was nice, penguins are cute. This album is a joke. and play time is over now.

Just weird - some of the instrumentals were chill, some a bit annoying, and I swear there was some repetition. Didn't care for the vocals or keyboards.

I don't want to go to the cafe

Interesting, but not my jam

Listened to on 10/4/22 2/5 Favorite song: penguin cafe single I wanted to like this a lot but it just got progressively more strange and unsettling with the quartet and eerie singing. Naked penguin man on the cover was a nice touch though

Såg intressant ut men det var inte särskilt kul.

I only realized halfway through that I was playing it on shuffle. oops. Too late to go back now though. At some points I thought it as nice, then weird, and then other points I was bored. Album cover: 3/5 I kinda like it

I like weird, but this one was too weird, mostly an unpleasant listening experience, though that might've been the point?

Too-arty rock that fluctuates between "I'm not cool enough to understand this" at its lows and "this is forgettable and inoffensive" at its highs.

love the sound of someone you love whos going away but can't really get myself to listen to the whole thing. solid 2.

A bit redundant

Not my cup of tea really.

A strange amalgam of classical and folk that all falls a bit flat. Not sure who this appeals to really. Its not classical or pop or truely avant garde. The opening track is the stongest but it soon dips. Unmemorable. 2.

Note to self - add this band to my "venture capital presentation backtrax" playlist. While engaging at times, and definitely a sound that has been revisited by many bands since, it all just falls into the background until you barely realize you're listening to music at all.

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Zopf: Giles Farnaby's Dream (7) 2 - The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter (9) 3 - Zopf: Milk (5)

Better than I thought it was going to be, but it is a long time since I heard any Penguin Café Orchestra. In the right setting it would be good as background music, but it's not for me to sit and listen to.

Kinda boring ngl

would be nice bgm if i were in paris or something i guess….

Well this was a bit different. I enjoyed most of it but I doubt I'll ever to listen to it again.

Hard to rate for me. I guess i disliked more of it then i liked.

Un peu ennuyant pour être honnête. J'avais l'impression d'écouter un album composé uniquement d'interludes