Reviews (page 7 of 8)
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
It's not interessant for me, I didn't know this orchestra.
Love the album cover and the title plus the name of the band is sick, the album itself is pretty weird to say the least. Also felt repetitive at times. Quirky, but not interesting enough.
More of a soundscape, pretty experimental stuff - didn't really land for me
Their later stuff is more interesting. 5 star if you're the music supervisor for an early 2000's indie coming of age comedy. 2 star for everyone else.
This was a bit boring and twiddly… not my idea of good experimental!
Not as many whacky curios as the 1981 self-titled album, and noticeably more controlled than that one, which sawed and whirred and plonked and buzzed with an organic unpredictability. Pleasant but not thrilling.
Penguin Café Orchestra is another art project. It’s weird and textured. But surprisingly enjoyable and playful at times. I wasn’t expecting to be pulled into the flow of it as much nor annoyed at the interruption of sudden stark sounds (which was the point, I believe, on “The Sound of Someone…”). In the age of Spotify sleep or concentration playlists, this album would feel defiant. In amongst every day, it felt like I took my coffee break at a museum’s cafe. Not revolutionary but something to talk about when I get back to work
Odd, weird.
2/5 not at all...
Won't be rushing back
Please, please save me from SHACK.
Very light music. It may have been innovative when it came out but I have to admit it left me a bit cold.
so I found most of the album kinda pleasant, but it failed to really provoke any kind of emotional response from me, just kinda fell flat, album art is cool however, so bonus point for that
I have no idea what this is going to be but title and album art alone have me very excited to find out. A big let down based on naming convention to start. it's not bad, it's just kind of nothing, pleasant background at best. Track 4 had some very Chris Remo vibes running through it and made me want to listen to the Gone Home and Firewatch soundtracks instead. Nothing after there was really different. It tread a strange line between mostly being nice enough ambience before some violin kicked in and drew away from that. Very unsure why this has made it onto the list at all, even in albums so far I haven't liked personally I've been able to see why people might rate them highly, this I can't imagine anyone saying 'You MUST listen to this album', or even a single song off of it
the cover goes crazy but the music doesnt
Wat was dit nu ineens? Ik heb er niet erg lang naar kunnen luisteren.
Chilled hippy melodic stuff. Bit boring, not my bag. 2/5
meh
Avant Garde. Unusual mix of classical and modern instruments. Some pleasant gentle music and some discordant. Very interesting artwork.
What the hell was that? The 70s must have been fun. The hilarious conversations I've had about this album will not permit me to give it 1-star, so I'll give it 2.
Not sure why this album is on the list. It was better than others but not inspiring in any way.
Not for me...
weird
Brian eno’s shit music strikes again
Intressant och rätt fint album. Men inte riktigt min grej och kommer nog inte lyssna igen. 2,5/5
Too avant garde for my liking. Sound is all over the place.
The sound of someone you love I would add to a chill list. the rest is meh
provavelmente mais interessante quando saiu do que hoje em dia. sinto-me insuficientemente cultivado para apreciar seja la o que for que se passa aqui. se tivesse de descrever em 7 palavras era literalmente musica de ir ao cu a passarinhos.
joo men fan lyssna så lite,
Ganske kjedelig egentlig. Er bokstavelig talt restaurant musikk. Ikke helt flat nok til å være heismusikk, men ikke noe man headbanger til. Ville spurt om skip hvis vi spilte sammen og sanger fra dette albumet kom på.
Background sound.
Some of the tracks feel a little bit charming, but also completely baffling at the same time. So respect, definitely not my cup of tea but I can imagine this album being important to a lot of esoteric artists. 2.5/5
I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. It's a bit of a curio. A cool artefact of its time, but not necessarily something I'll come back to. I appreciate the intent to bridge folk, classical, and rock ideas, but I can't say that it spoke to me in a significant way after a few listens. Favourite track: From the Colonies Rating: 2.5/5
I enjoyed the first track and the dream one, but the Milk thing alone required one star to be subtracted. It was an eclectic mix of fun and strange.
This album made me uncomfortable. Very confident I will never listen to this one again.
It was OK. Certainly not the worst album we've been given, but not exactly special, either. The musicianship is certainly good, but the experimental nature was really self-indulgent and makes repeat listening unlikely.
It got better at the end. Not something I'll revisit. Experimental music to be appreciated as such- not as something you actually listen to
like it's all just instrumental but it's cool. not my cup of tea but i liked "the sound of someone you love who's going away but it doesn't matter"
“Whacky” orchestra tunes
avant-pop
It got better as I got used to it but I'll leave it for the biiiiiiirds
Under "meh" in the dictionary is a picture of this album
Too artsy for me
Hmmmmmm vähintäänkin outo levy...
Sounds surprisingly modern, but the older-style stuff isn't my jam.
There is certainly something to be said for the way that the strings, in particular, are recorded. From the first track the slight scratch which is nearly inevitable in a performance is evident. But despite Eno's producing efforts, neither the experimentation nor the songs reach the heights of his other work. There is much better chamber music out there, and some of it is even well-recorded. And there is also much better experimentation with chamber instruments, better arrangements, less repetition and repetition and repetition of chords.
Sounds a bit like a film score. Probably good for background music
jazzy...
Bloop meep blorp morp fart. Annoying.
The actual fuck is this shite?? I’d rather have actual penguins peck fish out of my ears than sit through this again. It did make me wonder though does penguin taste like chicken??
You do wonder how some of these have got in.
What?
That's gonna be a no from me, dawg! Another album of just noises that I did not enjoy. I am currently reading Mr. Poppers Penguins so that is a nice little coincidence.
One of the things that I enjoy most about the 1001 is being introduced to music of different styles. This album makes me appreciate so many other artists, like yet another Elvis Castello album or maybe Nick Seed & the Bad Caves (read previous reviews). This album is the soundtrack for every liminal space …ever. Maybe I’m not smart enough to get it. Maybe my Irish-German-American upbringing made me cynical and emotionless but the only feeling I got from this was anxiety, acid reflux and an eye twitch. I found myself in a fetal position, stemming, fingers in ears and screaming to control the environment until someone turned it off. …but I appreciate so much more stuff now.
One of the most boring albums I’ve ever listened to