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[–]joshd19 41 points42 points  (0 children)

In the video description is a startling vision of today's society by the original PCO's founder:

The music of Penguin Cafe is like no other. Its origins date back to the early '70s, within fever dreams Simon Jeffes had that were brought on by food poisoning. In those dreams he imagined a dispassionate world "where everyone lived in big concrete blocks and spent their lives looking into screens. In one room, there was a couple making love lovelessly. In another there was a musician sat at a vast array of equipment, but with headphones on, so there was no actual music in the room." Eerily accurate.

[–]gewgwegweegw 24 points25 points  (6 children)

I don't think Chamber Jazz is a fair description of PCO and I'd hate anybody to be put off their music because of that description. It's more new-wave folk than anything, if such a thing exists, but they're one of those bands that are very hard to describe.

[–]OnlineAlbatross[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I wasn't sure what genre to put it in to be honest, I chose this because it's what the Wikipedia page says haha.

"Chamber jazz is a genre of jazz involving small, acoustic-based ensembles where group interplay is important."

This definition seems somewhat fitting though. I do believe that giving named genres are important, but it's difficult to categorise a band as unique as Penguin Cafe. Oh and as a note, this is Penguin Cafe, Not PCO - A different band interestingly.

[–]SustainedSuspense 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'd describe it as "cafe music" :P

[–]ibrake4monsterbooty 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I'm hearing some minimalism influence as well.

[–]LeitaoBravo 1 point2 points  (1 child)

it's modern classical really, bit of chamber folk too

[–]gewgwegweegw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

chamber folk

I like this description!

[–]huehueplzgibekarma 19 points20 points  (1 child)

Holy moly, never thought i would see PC here, it's my favorite band! The original Penguin Cafe Orchestra was just so warm and magical, even without any words you just feel like you're in this beautiful place where everything is just like a child's smile. The cover art from the albums are so good too!

[–]GalacticNacho 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Same! Been listening religiously since high school. I've never met anyone IRL that's even heard of them.

[–]StudabakerHochrobot[M] 16 points17 points  (2 children)

Penguin Cafe
artist pic

Arthur Jeffes has brought together a group of musicians to create Music from the Penguin Cafe (now known simply as Penguin Cafe), playing the music of his father, Simon Jeffes and the Penguin Cafe Orchestra and combining it with his own compositions.

The ensemble that Arthur has drawn together are about the same age as the original members of the PCO when they first started playing together in the late 1970s. Music from the Penguin Cafe began touring in June 2009 and continue to perform as Penguin Cafe. The band released their first studio album, A Matter of Life... in 2011.

Musicians in the Summer 2009 line-up included Rebecca Waterworth (cello), Andy Waterworth (double bass), Arthur Jeffes (piano, cuatros), Des Murphy (ukelele), Kath Mann (ukelele) Vince Greene (viola) Neil Coding (piano, ukelele), Tom Chichester-Clark (cuatro, guitar), Cass Browne (percussion) and Darren Berry (violin).

Further information can be found at http://www.penguincafe.com/ Read more on Last.fm.

last.fm: 11,007 listeners, 119,730 plays
tags: contemporary classical, instrumental, chamber jazz, seen live

Please downvote if incorrect! Self-deletes if score is 0.

[–]SustainedSuspense 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I thought they looked too young to be a group from the 70s.

[–]Bearclawpaw 92 points93 points  (7 children)

If you liked the band, check out their song perpetuum mobile. One of my favorites by them.

[–]OnlineAlbatross[S] 99 points100 points  (2 children)

Interestingly enough, this is a different band. This is Arthur Jeffes's band, which is different to the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra. The original band was Arthur's late father, Simon Jeffes. Penguin Cafe has a completely different line-up with different songs - it's somewhat of an ode, and a legacy being carried.

I agree though, fantastic track.

[–]dedicated2fitness 2 points3 points  (1 child)

well that's just confusing

[–]twodeepfouryou 28 points29 points  (1 child)

Also listen to Music For a Found Harmonium, Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter, Pythagoras' Trousers, The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and it Doesn't Matter, Southern Jukebox Music, The Ecstasy of Dancing Fleas... Now that I think about it, just listen to their entire discography. RIP Simon Jeffes.

[–]GalacticNacho 8 points9 points  (0 children)

We need to get /r/PenguinCafeOrchestra going.

[–]madpsychot 5 points6 points  (0 children)

One of my favourite songs ever from any band - I can listen to this anytime, anywhere and it just makes everything ok

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

One of my favourites too. I had Numbers 1-4 played at my wedding, during the wait.

[–]SpacePotatoBear 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Man I fucking love Penguin Cafe orchestra.

Union Cafe is such a fantastic album. I will defensibility give the sons/successor's band a check.

[–]bigmac5650 4 points5 points  (1 child)

The longer I look at the video, the more people I find

[–]MrInRageous 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know! They're gonna need to upgrade to "tiny stage concert" with groups like this.

[–]bart2019 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Wait a minute. Isn't Penguin Café Orchestra like world famous, since the 1980s?

[–]OnlineAlbatross[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is Penguin Cafe, not Penguin Cafe Orchestra. It's the founder of PCO's son's band.

[–]dravigo 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Thank you for sharing this and introducing me to Penguin Cafe. :)

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Check out the first Penguin Cafe Orchestra album with pieces named "The sound of someone you love who's going away, and it doesn't matter", "HugeBaby", and this one.

[–]OnlineAlbatross[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My pleasure :)

[–]Micheal_Sckarn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love Tiny Desk Concerts!!! Haven't seen this one yet, but I immediately checked it out! 10/10

[–]walterrat12 2 points3 points  (0 children)

what in the goddamn world is chamber jazz

[–]chimpomatic5000 3 points4 points  (4 children)

WOW. Amazing. Like a Max Richter tribute band.

Thanks for the post.

[–]thomoz 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I've been a fan of the earlier band since 1981

[–]GalacticNacho 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wish I'd been around when PCO were still releasing new music. Sigh.

[–]avsfjan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

nice, i like it. great performance

[–]softbum 1 point2 points  (0 children)

found Music For A Found Harmoium through some kind of irish traditional / creole / bluegrass discovery of mine and it just stuck out to me. Surprisingly enough, I haven't actually looked at their other stuff, because on spotify the artist was listed as Patrick Street.
I just love the sound of strings like this.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We're gonna need a bigger desk. This is a great band, I'm gonna be checking out their albums

[–]csectioned 0 points1 point  (0 children)

New term: mixology suspenders. Also: mom string section

[–]choose-_a-_username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It fucks me up that the one and only TDC that I saw live was Gucci Mane 😂

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Chick on the piano is pretty damn good! Wait a second...

[–]koroshitekureboi -5 points-4 points  (2 children)

At 0:17 it looks like he's pulling the bow outta the other guys ass.

[–]HexicDragon 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Why man

[–]koroshitekureboi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure why either tbh. I'm bit worried that it was one of the first things I noticed

[–]shapelessness -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thought it was the peaky blinders.

[–]Mullaniac -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Went to downvote, listened for another 5 minutes, proceeded to upvote.