The Penguin Cafe Orchestra biography 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 bands 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 groups first studio album, Music From The Penguin Cafe, 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 bands 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 Still Life at the Penguin Cafe, composed entirely by Jeffes. The ever-changing, ever-evolving sound and presentation of the ensembles music led to multiple types of audience outreach and support. Fans of all types of music have found something to love about the groups 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 groups 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 fathers band and planned to do live shows with this revived musical act. As of October of 2010, however, the future of PCOs professional recording career remains uncertain. BBC Review From Celtic folk to avant classical minimalism, the PCOs eclectic career compiled in... Suzanne Hutson 2002-11-20 If you are in any doubt as to who The Penguin Café Orchestra are, think back to that quirky tune on the One2One advert made up of telephone dial tones and jerky violin ? Yes, thats them. Or more precisely, him; the Penguin Café Orchestra was founded in the mid 70s by one man, the late British composer Simon Jeffes, as a soundtrack for a fantasy café whose daily specials were the re-written laws of physics and music. A former music student, Jeffes dream - which came to him during a bout of food poisoning in the early 70s - was to write and perform music which drew on styles and cultures all over the world. The PCO was the realisation of this dream, and A Brief History shows off the huge range of influences which shaped the PCOs charmingly unique and eccentric sound. Its all in there, chirpy Celtic folk tunes, minimalist drones, choral chants; and through it all, an almost hypnotic rhythmic repetitiveness which brings a dreamy, sleepy quality to even the livelier tunes. Today, Jeffes music remains delightfully unclassifiable, whilst its accessibility makes it beloved of advertisers and Café del Mar chill-out album compilers alike. In the 70s however the PCO was radical, even revolutionary, catching the attention of Brian Eno who signed them to his Obscure label. Other evidence of Jeffes eclecticism; brought in as producer by Malcolm McLaren to raise Adam and the Ants from punk to pop and chart stardom; arranged the strings on Sid Vicious version of My Way. Need I say more? A review cannot really do credit to this album. The PCO is a legend, and the music on A Brief History tells the story of an immensely creative and joyous force in music. Irrepressibly chirpy, irresistibly quirky and undeniably original, here is music to bring sunshine to a Sunday morning. (from: bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/vcgb) Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Beanfields (4:30) 2. Telephone And Rubber Band (2:29) 3. Music For A Found Harmonium (3:39) 4. Perpetuum Mobile (4:31) 5. From The Colonies (3:20) 6. Giles Farnabys Dream (4:06) 7. Surface Tension (2:23) 8. Air A Danser (4:31) 9. Yodel 1 (4:12) 10. Numbers 1-4 (6:51) 11. Steady State (3:34) 12. Pauls Dance (1:46) 13. Prelude & Yodel (3:58) 14. Heartwind (4:12) 15. White Mischief (5:48) 16. Dirt (4:52) 17. Rosasolis (4:15) 18. Organum (3:53) 19. Lullaby (4:00) Total Time 76:57 Line-up / Musicians - Braco / drums - Danny Cummins / percussion - Stephen Fletcher / piano - Simon Jeffes / acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, cuatro, ukulele, bass, voice, Omnichord, Dulcitone, penny whistle, pitch pipes, harmonium, shakers, drums, ring modulator, rubber band, electronic organ, milkbottles, triangle, violin, drum, Linn Drum computer, soloban, spinet, Prophet V, fretless guitar, Bluthner and Bosendorfer pianos, zebra drum, tape, pianica, mandolin, electric aeolian harp - Pat Kierman / violin - Chris Laurence / bass - Giles Leaman / woodwinds - Helen Liebmann / cello - Bob Loveday / violin - Martin Loveday / cello - Ian Maidman (now Jennifer Maidman) / percussion/bass/ukelele/guitar - Peter McGowan / violin - Trevor Morais / drums - Steve Nye / electric piano, cuatro, Bluthner piano, Wurlitzer piano, harmonium - Neil Rennie / ukelele - Geoffrey Richardson / viola, slide guitar, bass, bongos, metal frame, ukelele, mandolin, electric guitar, penny whistle, clarinet - Henry Roche / piano - Katherine Tickell / Northumbrian small pipes - Pete Veitch / accordian - Katy Wilkinson / violin - Gavyn Wright / violin - Grace Davidson / vocals (track 19) - Emily Young / vocals (track 14)
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:42:36 +0000
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