Music From the Penguin Cafe

If Bluey came out in the 70s this would be its soundtrack.

Very quirky, but not particularly interesting.

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

Pleasant, interesting and weird.

Why do I have this strange feeling that I've heard the Penguin Cafe Single before?
Not bad, just more Brian Eno..

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

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

Boring. I gave up listening after 4 tracks.
1/5

Mostly this is the soundtrack to browsing one of those little boutiques in tourist towns, that are filled with "local" art that no one would buy if they weren't on vacation. There are some experimental moments peppered in here and there, and I really wish there were more. That seems to be when they are at their best. Nothing terrible here, just feels very "in the background" too often.

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

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

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

Snoozefest

I’ve never dropped acid, but if I ever do I imagine this is how every album will sound. Both going up and then coming down.

Dan laten ze iets op de toetsen vallen, dan vinden ze de meest neurotische manier om een ukelele te introduceren en dan laten ze horen dat je met snaarinstrumenten ook kan krassen. Alles ter onderscheid. Alsof Brian Eno zich ermee bemoeid heeft...O, wacht....

This is exactly the type of weird experimental shit I signed up for. I've never heard of this group or any of the musicians involved, but this album really clicked with me. I love the fusion of genres and styles, some of it sounds quite folky, other parts more prog rock or classical. I can see how this might have influenced quite a few modern indie and art rock bands too (particularly thinking of Neutral Milk Hotel, Arcade Fire and BCNR). I'll definitely be on the lookout for this on vinyl, and will be giving their other albums a listen too.

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

Pretty good. I don’t think this is something I’ll revisit often, but it’s the type of thing I’d buy the vinyl of and put on during a game night.

What a treat! This sent me down a rabbit hole of discovery. The Penguin Cafe Orchestra is perfect for almost any mood.

HL: "The sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter", “Surface Tension”, “Penguin Cafe Single”, “In a Sydney Motel”, “Giles Farnaby’s Dream”

God I love penguins

Oh the music- well, it can be unwieldy and slapdash, with a mix of very British strings with whatever “Pigtail” is. Kind of frustrating at first listen because of the sudden changes in quality, sometimes mid-song, but after the dust settling I’m already appreciating the absurd whimsy of the project a bit more.

3.5 / 5, at least

October 1, 2023

Love it when it's an album / artist that I have never heard of before in my life. Stuck it on whilst working, and almost didn't notice that it had finished which is ........................ mostly good I guess. Ambient background vibes with absolutely lunatic album artwork (and how much of a lost art is that these days too)