Penguin Cafe Orchestra for Eclectic
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53418
Printed Date: February 23 2025 at 12:06
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Topic: Penguin Cafe Orchestra for Eclectic
Posted By: anoah
Subject: Penguin Cafe Orchestra for Eclectic
Date Posted: November 18 2008 at 21:00
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Penguin Cafe Orchestra was a group of musicians led by composer Simon Jeffes, who play an odd assortment of music, with classical, jazz, folk, electronic, and progressive influences. Honestly, I'm not sure how well they would fit into eclectic. However, they couldn't comfortably fit into Progressive Folk, Progressive Electronic, Jazz-Rock/Fusion or RIO/Avant-Prog. You might be familiar with their track "Music for a Found Harmonium" which California Guitar Trio covered on their new album "Echoes." You can listen to that track on Penguin Cafe Orchestra's unofficial MySpace page here. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=234377119 - http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=234377119 Here is their official web page: http://www.penguincafe.com/home.htm - http://www.penguincafe.com/home.htm Here is their MySpace page: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=57771178 - http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=57771178 Here is their All Music Guide page: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifwxqq5ldde - http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifwxqq5ldde Here is thier Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_Cafe_Orchestra - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_Cafe_Orchestra ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 18 2008 at 21:29
PCO has been proposed a number of times. The RIO/ Avant team evaluated them and thought it was best for Prog Related (from progfreak -- the four blue balls means Related; the arrow means move to a Prog category :
That track alone would not commend them to Eclectic (it's not rock). Looking for more music at the site now (samples).. That said, I once had an album by the band many years ago -- absolutely terrific. I should return to the band. I think it has chamber qualities that does liken it to bands such as Art Zoyd (or ZnR -- is that in?), but I'd need to hear much more to think if it could fit Eclectic. I would love to see such music included here, but for Eclectic (which is for bands that are a mix of Prog styles with no "subgenre" referential core) it may be a stretch. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 19 2008 at 06:42
Wow, I haven't heard those guys in many years but the music from the album I heard, Music from the Penguin Cafe, is still lodged up there in my head. Quirky, yet accessible. Now I'm probably going to have to and buy it.  Milk.CD Universe classifies them as http://www.cduniverse.com/browsecat.asp?style=music&cat=221 - Rock/Pop , http://www.cduniverse.com/browsecat.asp?style=music&cat=1023 - Alternative , http://www.cduniverse.com/browsecat.asp?style=music&cat=62 - New Age , http://www.cduniverse.com/browsecat.asp?style=music&cat=8429 - Experimental Rock , http://www.cduniverse.com/browsecat.asp?style=music&cat=67 - Rock , http://www.cduniverse.com/browsecat.asp?style=music&cat=59 - Jazz ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: November 19 2008 at 07:56
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Only the first album is really progressive (Almost RIO/Chamber rock), the rest of the albums growing successively easier listening to become almost elevator music
Prog related at best. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Mandrakeroot
Date Posted: November 19 2008 at 11:17
Yes, I think that PR is correct for PCO. ------------- 
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Sean Trane wrote:Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: November 19 2008 at 11:43
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The same Prog Related -------------  |
Posted By: anoah
Date Posted: November 19 2008 at 17:19
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Yeah, there music doesn't really "rock." I still think they have progressive qualities. I guess PR is the way to go.
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Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: November 20 2008 at 05:52
Definitely prog related, but I think 'easy listening elevator music' is a bit harsh - they lost some of their experimental edge after the first album, but they retained their quirkiness - if Slapp happy had been an instrumental band they'd probably have sounded something like PCO. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: April 30 2009 at 15:12
| To prog related then, ok there all the way |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 03 2010 at 22:56
| So, were they ever added to PR? |
Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: August 03 2010 at 23:01
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I hope so. I love PCO.
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 03:38
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I don't see them there. I am hoping that someone with more behind-the-scenes info on the PR inclusions will step in here and enlighten us. Were they flat-out rejected, even by PR? Or were they simply put on the back burner? If it's the former, I would be very, very shocked.
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 05:42
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It looks like there's almost a consensus going on here for PR. Unfortunately if you go read the current definition of PR... I did order a copy of the first one. I think the 2008 CD release is the first time it's been available on CD. v I wish I was Special, but I'm a creep. Actually, I don't know but one album so even if I was I couldn't make the case.------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 06:46
| A Special Collaborator needs to advocate their case in front of the Admin Team in order to start the evaluation for Prog-Related. Any takers? |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 10:11
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Heard these guys on a compilation album some years back and loved the style _ prog related, very Jazzy too for the most part and way out music at times. ------------- 
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Posted By: The Truth
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 10:25
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I only have the first album but it is very proggressive which is why I was surprised they weren't on the site. ------------- http://blindpoetrecords.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: UndercoverBoy
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 10:30
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 10:38
Almost every band in the Prog Electronic category has nothing to do with rock. Kraftwerk, Mike Oldfield, Popol Vuh, Lustmord, Aube, Robert Rich, Tor Lundval, Harold Budd... not to mention all the post-rock bands which are decidedly unrocklike. I don't see how that argument carries much water. -------------
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 13:09
I'm not a SC, or else I would.
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 13:09
| Which are those many post-rock bands that are "decidedly" unrocklike? |
Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 13:30
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Sigur ros? Admittedly, I haven't heard their entire output, but there's nothing on () even remotely resembling rock. I would make the same argument for GYBE
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Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 13:36
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This is the least rocking Post Rock track I have heard, although there are parts on the album that are definitely rock: |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 13:41
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I don't agree about neither Sigur Ros nor GY!BE (there's plenty of rock in them, especially in their "canonical" works), but anyway, two ain't many... I do know a few such cases (like ../artist.asp?id=5628 - EXHAUST or ../artist.asp?id=2692 - SET FIRE TO FLAMES ) , but they are projects of the same guys from the major bands in the genre and aesthetically they explore further some of the more experimental ideas of post-rock, so their presence here in Post Rock is perfectly justified. IMO post rock has defined one of the purest (if not "the most pure") and most characteristic rock sounds of our time. @Matt:  |
Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 13:52
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 13:52
Well, it doesn't sound like rock to me, but I'll concede that I don't know much about post-rock, because I stopped listening after disliking the handful of albums I've heard. For that matter, Univers Zero doesn't strike me as being any more rock than Penguin Cafe Orchestra. -------------
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 14:43
You mean GY!BE. And while I'm not sure if those examples are ones I agree with, I do agree with your point in that plenty of artists here already don't have much rock in them at all, yet have been added sue to status or popularity as well as being undeniably progressive in approach. I think the less popular bands with just as much prog merit should be included, as well. It's not an X then Y argument, really it isn't. I just think we need to to stop being so concerned about the 'genre' of Prog and more appreciative of true progressive music acts such as PCO.
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 14:46
I'll agree with that. In fact, a very large majority of RIO/Avant-Prog acts on here have almost nothing to do with 'rock', yet you'll still hear the ZART team spouting off about why they are so stingy in their inclusions, because so many of the suggested bands are indeed Avant-Garde, but they aren't 'rock'. Well, if that were true, half the bands considered part of that banner wouldn't have made it on here to begin with. My opinion.
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 14:47
| @llama: agreed about chamber "rock" and some avant-prog. In that case and in electronic prog's case too, it's always music pushing the limits of what initially (sometimes very far behind) was a rock aesthetic. So the lack of rock elements is not necessarily an exclusion factor when concerning PA. BTW I should check these guys... And maybe if Hugues and Chris have suggested prog-related, maybe they could be convinced to support the band for the Admins' evaluation? |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 14:54
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^ Like I said, I'll support them too, but since I'm not a member of any genre team, I'm not sure if my vote will amount to much.
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 19:09
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bump. Anyone SC willing to get behind these guys, yet?
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 20:11
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Though I'm not in team work anymore, I'll give this a listen later. And I guess rock, like prog, can be in the ear of the behearer: |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 20:25
We should probably exhaust the Prog route first, and what would really help is sufficient and appropriate samples (and informative guidance to the music to help others with evaluation). I see that there's music on youtube. If going PR, then one has to show that not only was it influenced by Prog, but that it influenced Prog. A strong case must me presented when approaching admin for PR. How does it meet the various PR criteria? I'd be willing to back someone up if a strong case is made, and someone is willing to prepare the addition. What would be the most appropriate albums to listen to? I'm hearing some electronicish music in youtube that I think would be fine for PA. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 20:27
What I really like about Penguin Cafe is that they do have a few traditional 'rock' songs, but they are not limited to just that. They take influences from so many different sources, and are somehow able to sound like all and none of those things. At least to me. It may not always sound like what 'Prog' or 'Rock' is apparently supposed to sound like around here, but it certainly isn't regressive music by any means. Mainly, I think this band will appeal to people who enjoy Prog Rock. Why? Because they come from a very similar mindset: raid the musical world for inspiration, then mold it all into something entirely your own.  The more people made aware of this band, the better. My opinion, of course. Nothing more.
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 20:34
Well, everyone says the first album (Music From the Penguin Cafe) is the most innovative/diverse, but my personal two favorites so far are Broadcasting From Home and Sides Of Life. All three showcase the diversity and eclecticism of the band's music quite well, in my opinion, In all honestly, I feel that Avant or Eclectic are the best fits for these guys, simply due to the wide variety of styles and instruments used in the music, but hey, it's the experts' call. As for PR, well . . . the head composer's wife/girlfriend, who would sometimes sing on the music and did the cover artwork, Emily Young, is a sculptor and artist who many believe may have been the inspiration for Pink Floyd's ''See Emily Play'' track. Probably doesn't count since that was obviously much earlier, before the band's formation, but nice trivia, regardless. Also, Brian Eno is the one who supposedly discovered them and they were apparently influenced by him somewhat. He even put them on his short-lived label. If I think of any other connections, I'll post them in here.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 21:07
Thanks, I'll be looking into it more. I'm not concerned about lack of rock hearing more, and there may well be a case for Eclectic as it does share elements with several prog categories. Doesn't strike me as "out-there" enough for RIO/Avant Prog even if it has some similarities to chamber rock/ music acts in RIO. It's nice and melodic. I'd like to see it in PA. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 21:17
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Cool. Glad to see you agree. Here are some more examples of their wide variety of music: ^ That particular upload cuts off the final minutes of the track, but it gets pretty dramatic in the parts missing. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 21:44
| A couple of those I was thinking about posting myself. Thanks, I'm going to mention PCO to the Eclectic team. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 21:58
I don't think I've heard of these guys other than seeing their name. Alright, time to order that one. The same store had Implosion, so I made it a double.------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: August 05 2010 at 22:30
Cool beans.
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: August 06 2010 at 01:38
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They should be here so I am glad that the eclectic team are considering PCO! -------------
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Posted By: The Runaway
Date Posted: August 19 2010 at 07:48
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Yes, yes, yes, and yes! ------------- http://www.formspring.me/Aragorn224" rel="nofollow - Trendsetter win! The search for nonexistent perfection. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: August 19 2010 at 07:50
^ Johnny Come Lately? 
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 11:57
New kid in town! (Cleared for Eclectic, that is.) ------------- |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: October 09 2010 at 23:37
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Bio (sorry, it was the best I could do): THE PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA, a considerably eclectic musical ensemble, first came to band founder Simon Jeffes in the form of a dream-like vision. Jeffes, an English-born multi-instrumentalsit and composer, came up with the idea to compose music that suited the imagery and mood of the dream he experienced. By the time the moment had passed, he had a clear idea of where to go musically, and a poem that seemed to have fallen into his lap with no effort: '‘I am the proprietor of the Penguin Cafe. I will tell you things at random.'' Along with cellist Helen Liebmann, Jeffes formed the band that came to be referred to as PCO in 1973. While many different lineups were tried out over the course of the band's career, there never really was one set group of musicians that would be considered the core lineup. Simon Jeffes composed most of the music himself. In 1976, the group's first studio album, <i>Music From The Penguin Cafe</i>, was released by Brian Eno on his experimental label, Obscure Records. The album has seen several subsequent re-issues since then, and is still readily available. The large list of members The Penguin Cafe Orchestra had seen over its lifespan have all performed and recorded with a very diverse bunch of musicians including Jeff Beck, Paul McCartney, Caravan, Bob Geldof, Camel, and so on. The group took influences from all of those fellow artists and more, creating one of the most diverse musical atmospheres for them to write and record within. The future seemed bright. That potential for greatness may have never been fully realized, however, for tragic circumstances halted the band's growth on December 11, 1997. On this day, Simon Jeffes died of an inoperable brain tumor. In total, The Penguin Cafe Orchestra released only five proper studio albums, one EP, and a handful of live recordings, including a full ballet entitled <i>'Still Life' at the Penguin Cafe</i>, composed entirely by Jeffes. The ever-changing, ever-evolving sound and presentation of the ensemble's music led to multiple types of audience outreach and support. Fans of all types of music have found something to love about the group's output over the years. They have been labeled as everything from Chamber Jazz, to Experimental Folk, to Avant-Garde Rock music and Neo-Classical, and everything in-between. All of the styles and influences are seamlessly weaved throughout the group's catalogue to create a very rich listening experience rivaled by few. In the year 2009, Simon Jeffes' son, Arthur, unveiled a newer incarnation of his father's band and planned to do live shows with this revived musical act. As of October of 2010, however, the future of PCO's professional recording career remains uncertain. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: October 09 2010 at 23:38
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^ The <i></i> marks are in anticipation of the html effects once the bio is officially posted to the page. If they don't translate correctly, I apologize. Just trying to help it look as neat as it can in its final form.
EDIT: I'm getting all the album info ready that I can, so hold tight, and nobody will have to do too much extra work to get these guys added. I'm gonna make it as smooth as possible to just enter in all the info without any hassle.
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: October 10 2010 at 01:22
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Albums and some incomplete info (doing my best, here): ----------------- Studio Albums ''Music From The Penguin Cafe'' (1976)  Tracks: 1. Penguin Cafe Single 2. Zopf 3. From The Colonies 4. In A Sydney Motel 5. Surface Tension (Where The Trees Meet The Sky) 6. Milk 7. Coronation 8. Giles Farnaby's Dream 9. Pigtail 10. The Sound Of Someone You Love Who's Going Away And It Doesn't Matter 11. Hugebaby/Chartered Flight Personnel: Simon Jeffes- vocals, guitar, electric guitar, cuatro, cheng, ukulele, cello, spinet, electric piano, bass instrument, percussion, ring modulator Emily Young - vocals Neil Rennie - ukulele Gavyn Wright - violin, viola Helen Liebmann - cello Steve Nye - electric piano Additional info: Produced by Simon Jeffes and Steve Nye Label(s): Obscure / E.G. Records / Virgin ----------------- ''Penguin Cafe Orchestra'' (1981)  Tracks:
Total length: 48:15 Personnel: Simon Jeffes - guitar, cuatro, ukulele, violin, pennywhistle, piano, harmonium, various other instruments Geoffrey Richardson - guitar, ukulele, viola, bass instrument, bongos Steve Nye - cuatro, electric piano Neil Rennie - ukulele Peter Veitch - violin, accordion Gavyn Wright - violin Helen Liebmann - cello Giles Leaman - oboe Braco - drums, bongos, shaker Julio Segovia - cymbals Additional info: Produced by Simon Jeffes Label(s): E.G. Records / Virgin ----------------- ''Broadcasting From Home'' (1984)  Tracks: 1. Music for a found harmonium 2. Prelude and yodel 3. More milk 4. Sheep dip 5. White mischief 6. In the back of a taxi 7. Music by numbers 8. Another one from the colonies 9. Air 10. Heartwind 11. Isle of view (music for helicopter pilots) 12. Now nothing Personnel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Jeffes - - Guitar, Piano, Harmonium, various other instruments
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuma_Harada&action=edit&redlink=1 - - Bass http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Nye - - Keyboards http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Giles&action=edit&redlink=1 - - Drums http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavyn_Wright - - Violin http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marcus_Beale&action=edit&redlink=1 - - Violin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Richardson - - Viola http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Liebmann - - Cello http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neil_Rennie&action=edit&redlink=1 - - Ukelele http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Defries - s - Trumpet, Flugelhorn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Whitehead - - Trombone http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trevor_Morais&action=edit&redlink=1 - s - Percussion Simon Jeffes - electric guitar, fretless guitar, cuatro, ukulele, violin, pennywhistle, piano, various other instruments Neil Rennie - cuatro, ukulele Bob Loveday - violin, bass instrument Elisabeth Perry - violin Gavyn Wright - violin Geoffrey Richardson - viola Helen Liebmann - cello Steve Nye - piano Danny Cummins - shekere, percussion |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: October 10 2010 at 02:03
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Albums cont: (couldn't find line-up information for any of these, I'm sorry) EP: ''The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Mini Album'' (1983)  Tracks:
Producer: SImon Jeffes Label: EG Records ------------------------- Live Albums: ''When In Rome'' (1988)  Tracks:
Total Length: 68:22 Additional Info: *Not included on original vinyl LP Produced by Simon Jeffes, record label - E.G. Records '''Still Life' At The Penguin Cafe'' (1990)  Tracks: 1. Air A Danser 2. Prld And Yodel 3. Hns Of The Bull 4. Pythagoras' Trousers 5. White Mischief 6. Now Nothing 7. Music By Numbers 8. Numbers 1 - 4 9. Four Pieces: Perpetuum Mobile 10. Four Pieces: Southern Jukebox Music 11. Four Pieces: Oscar Tango 12. Four Pieces: Music For A Found Harmonium Label: Polygram Records ''Concert Program'' (1995)  Tracks: DISC 1
1. Air a Danser
2. Cage Dead (version 2)
3. Organum
4. Southern Jukebox Music
5. Numbers 1-4
6. Air
7. Perpetuum Mobile
8. Nothing Really Blue
9. Telephone and Rubber Band
DISC 2
10. Beanfields
11. Vega
12. Surface Tension (where the trees meet the sky)
13. Oscar Tango
14. Music for a Found Harmonium
15. Lifeboat (Lovers Rock)
16. Steady State
17. Scherzo And Trio
18. Giles Farnaby's Dream
19. Salty Bean Fumble
20. Red ShortsLabel: ZOPF/ WINDHAM HILL*whew!* |
Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: October 10 2010 at 13:03
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A colossal thank you for all this! ------------- |
Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: October 10 2010 at 13:29
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...and added. (along with studio albums)
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: October 10 2010 at 16:15
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^ Awesome! I'll add the rest of the material (live albums and collections, etc.) soon enough. Great they finally made it here. Hope everything I did helped out a little.
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Posted By: God Was A Mellotron
Date Posted: October 17 2010 at 13:34
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Just more thanks for this! I think Simon Jeffes is a forgotten genius of our times, no less. His ability to convey emotions and paint sounds is simply marvellous, his range of styles and influences impressive, and most of the PCO stuff finds a direct way to my heart and brain. Here's another nice one popping in my head while writing, something like a musical incarnation of joy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQflLq6HRgU - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQflLq6HRgU |
Posted By: The Martian
Date Posted: August 13 2013 at 09:12
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I heard the Arthur Jeffes version of the band recently on the radio, promoting some forthcoming event, so they are active even as I write, in 2013. I'm not sure that Arthur's band quite hits the level of quality that his father's band did, but the music on the current YouTube clips and albums is very good, and faithful to Simon Jeffes' style. I'm glad he's continuing to keep the Penguins' torch alight. Mark L |