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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2024
- Bob Boilen | June 16, 2017 - 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.
But he also imagined a place, the Penguin Cafe, where folks could gather, for pleasure, cheer and music. He wanted to hear what that music would sound like, and so created the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. I was always a huge fan of that original music; listeners of NPR may have heard it often in-between news stories during the many years I directed All Things Considered.
While Simon Jeffes died in 1997, his son Arthur has been creating new music infused with his father's original inspiration. He calls his group, simply, Penguin Cafe. You can hear Brazilian sounds in the rhythms, classical and minimalism in the strings, Asia in its harmonium, African sounds in the kalimbas. But honestly, it's none of these; it's a universal dream state.
If you're looking to explore further be sure the listen to Penguin Cafe's recent album The Imperfect Sea, which nods to Kraftwerk, Simian Mobile Disco and Franz Schubert. It's none of these.
The Imperfect Sea is available now:
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/the...
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Imperfect-Sea-...
Set List
"Wheels Within Wheels"
"Protection"
"Ricercar"
Musicians
Arthur Jeffes (piano, cuatro); Oli Langford (violin); Neil Codling (piano, harmonium, dulcitone, ukulele); Darren Berry (percussion); Clementine Brown (violin); Vincent Greene (viola); Des Murphy (ukulele); Andy Waterworth (double bass)
Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Kara Frame, Beck Harlan; PA: CJ Riculan; Photo: Claire Harbage/NPR.
For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast: www.npr.org/podcasts/510292/ti... - เพลง
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I'd love if penguin cafe was the band that never ends the memebers change over the millennia but they keep making a similar style of music forever
Like an philharmonic or orchestra ?
@@CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon 1111
Like a shinto temple?
I'm pregnant and I love to listen to your music with my baby. It feels like I'm telling my baby that life is full of challenges, sorrows and joys.
What a beautiful summary of their music 💕 it seems your child will have awesome music taste!
Description adds a lot of flavour to this great concert. Thanks.
holy shit I usually skim them or don't look at all, thank you!
diw2 Hope you take a listen to Penguin Cafe Orchestras first albums from the 70's and 80's if you haven't!
the back story adds so much to the magic and the emotion of the music...the two things together had me in tears
@@KJmusic97 totally!❤ it really is magical
So grateful for this comment. I would never have looked at the description otherwise ❤
Hi NPR, you left the cellist out of the description:
Rebecca Waterworth, cello
Please update. Thank you.
looks like they still haven’t updated
rip Simon. very glad the penguin legacy continues
Jack A +1
May it never end
0:00 Wheels Within Wheels
5:53 Protection
11:29 Ricercar
Honestly, this is the only music that silences my mind in anxious moments and gives senses of hope, joy and contentment. I LOVE this piece of art Penguin Cafe created and is still creating. Thanks to Billie Marten who has talked about Penguin Cafe in an interview, otherwise I might haven’t stumbled across all this nearly a year ago… also helped me and is still helping me with heartbreak.
I can see why. I just stumbled upon them ten minutes ago and I’m mesmerized.
@@mondoseguendo6113 very happy for you!
It knew it would be good when I saw the large string section
Me too!
I love the pianist's speaking voice
The gorgeous Neil Codling brought me here but I have to admit that I'm absolutely blown away by these compositions. I genuinely fell in love with these sounds ❤
Magnificent
That's what happens when brilliant humble musicians get together and express their harmonic humanity
Bravi
I imagine this as the soundtrack of a poetic indie videogame like Unravel. Especially Protection, this track is absolutely stunning
Rebecca Waterworth on cello needs crediting. She's amazing.
She's lovely :)
same with the violist!
all of them are amazing and unique!
Exactly!
Neil Codling is also a member of Suede, one of my favourite bands ever.
Saw Simon perform in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s at the Iron Horse in Northampton, Mass. Riveting performance, will never forget it. Remember him talking about his love for his sister and how that influenced his music. Have recently rediscovered the band and so thrilled to hear how they have evolved the music into their own.
I’m literally at a Penguin Cafe concert in Edinburgh right now
I'm metaphorically at a Penguin Cafe concert in Edinburgh right now
I drank way too much cough syrup and I have no idea where I am right now
jealooooooous
I'm honestly so jealous, I couldn't get the time off work and was going to go see them in Perth!
Hauntingly beautiful! I'm so glad I stopped on this, and read the wonderful written description by the producer. :)
I know this isn’t technically the same members, and almost a different band, but one of my favourite track from this "orchestra” is "The Sound of someone you love who’s going away and it doesn’t matter". The new member here are doing a great justice to the old ones and keeps the legacy alive !
I could see scenes from various movies in my head while listening to this. Not movies I've seen exactly, it just sounds like a film score. Love it!
I love nearly every song Penguin Cafe Orchestra and Penguin Cafe have made, but I especially love the songs that use ostinato to create a hypnotic mood, like “Wheels Within Wheels” which is the first song that was played here (which is technically a cover of a Simian Mobile Disco song, but Penguin Cafe's arrangement is so good it sounds like it could have been written by them in the first place). See also “Catania” and “(The Roaring of A) Silent Sun” by Penguin Cafe and “Numbers 1-4” and “Perpetuum Mobile” by the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
This is absolutely breathtaking. Years late to the party and I'm not even mad.
thank you for taking me somewhere else
I was a fan of Penguin Cafe Orchestra and decided to find out, what had happened to them. Until I read, Simon Jeffes had died, but at the same time I found out about Penguin Cafe. Great ensemble and great musicians. I live in Holland, near the German border, and wanted to see them live in concert. So we booked tickets in Canterbury, and a place to stay. We drove to Calais, took the Ferry to Dover and drove on to Canterbury. The tickets were only £26 and the trip costed a fortune😊. A wonderful experience and loved every minute of it. Got a chance to talk to Arthur😃. Btw “Protection” is so breathtaking🥰.
I'm buying a copy of this album. The music in it is both cerebral and visceral at the same time. That does not omit the fact that the instrumental arrangements weave into each other with such ornate intricacy and melodic beauty. It doesn't sound formulaic at all. Moreover, it is refreshingly clean/light enough as background music yet cathartic as a set for close/intimate listening. It is joyful, contemplative and tense without being depressing.
Beautifully said, well placed words for a gracious band.
Uh oh somebody found a thesaurus
I never thought I would see this - PCO on Tiny Desk! What a stunning performance!
Longtime lover of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra... this is a balm to my soul... "it's a universal dream state" ... yes yes yes ♥♥♥
This wasn't what I was looking for. But I stayed, and as it turned out, it was exactly what I looking for.
FELL IN LOVE WHEN THEY BEGAN TO PLAY. IMMEDIATELY. DOPE.🤘
A fantastic surprise! I LOVE me some Penguin Cafe! One of those superb CDs I had but didn't know much about. This video pulls back the curtain.
Hopeful melancholy - that's how I would describe Penguin Cafe =) The music grows on me really fast.
I love it, adore it, listen to it all the time. Thank you Penguin Cafe and Tiny Desk.
I love this I really enjoy watching artists hands at work it’s just beautiful and it just sounds gorgeous x
Thanks you for this - have been enjoying Penguin Cafe Orchestra for a long time - nice to see them still around - peace to all
This is highly reminiscent of The Cinematic Orchestra. I've been trying to find a similar sound for a while. Thank you for this!
same here. i've been looking for this sound for a long time! it's like an itch you can't scratch.
....again...i love it.....
one of my favorite groups. so happy to see them doing this!
A fantastic performance (as always!) from Arthur and the wonderful Penguins..long may he continue ..his Dad must be very proud indeed
Thank you! Love this music! My band On/Off once played after them in Paradiso Amsterdam in the 1980’s.
I enjoyed the concert afterwards actually because it was the first time i saw and hear them. It was with the original members with ofcourse Simon Jeffes...(RIP)... Got every thing on cd from that period. Still play it very often, i love the album ‘When In Rome’...
Beautiful. It's great to see Penguin Cafe on Tiny Desk.
everyone in this group looks so isolated, sad and lonely... like they're really from the imaginary world that inspired them
I am very happy to hear that there is still café Penguin or again. Are a big fan since the early 90's.
What in the world called "Penguin Cafe" could be bad? This is awesome!
So RICH and DEEP sound!
That last piece is SO beautiful!
Los descubrí y los escuchaba en un cassette (de cinta!) regrabado del de una amiga en los 90 , años dorados del siglo pasado , si los tuve ... O sería en los 80 , y plateados ??? ... Una belleza que recupero hoy en noviembre 2022 , despues de vivir un siglo , jjjj ....
Ahora ( 60 y casi 3 años ) lo plateado es mi pelo , jjjj ! Translate ...
I love this so much. That drummer is so cool!
Love it! Thanks for sharing. Long for the day we can get back to playing in ensembles again. Been too long.
i didn't even notice the penguins until the last 20 seconds of the video
just a great moment of ART !! yes it is possible to create BEAUTY and MAGNITUDE only with music !!!
Stumbled across this and I really enjoyed it. I love the LIVE fade outs. You don't hear that in current music.
Stirring Music like in a fond dream - calm, True - Thank you NPR.
Love this, I'm so relaxed now.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! Thank you!
So happy to see this band here.
its music like this that gets me through my day
Saw these guys in ireland a decade ago. My wife became a convert and I just wish they’d come back. They’ve kept homage to the original and become themselves
grazie, le vostre musiche sono molto emozionanti
Very great pieces! Soothing! Deep!!
I needed this. NEEDED
I love this! It's unique and yet reminds me of lots of other things! It's also very minimalist. I love discovering something new!
Simply captivating
😮increíble!!! Es lo mas bonito y sorprendente que jamás oí
Must like this music, its tearing up my soul in good way.
heaven in my earsss! 😭💖
Hermoso!!! muchas gracias por sonar!!!
excellent sound quality
I´m recently in love of this band found it by "serendipiti".. in jazz24 there is a band called Perpetum Mobile and found the same song and played, it´s not the jazz track.. BUT I FOUND GOLD... and drinked a penguin cafe!!!!!
Tranquil. I love this!
ahhhhhh!! so beautiful
the muffling the piano is genius it makes the stabs so soft what a band eh.
que coisa maravilhosa (re)encontrar Penguin Cafe aqui.
The vibes, they are good
wow!! wish I had found this band sooner! the epitome of cool!!
Love this!
I'm diggin those hats
Wonderful! Gonna have to put the album on now... ✌️🌺🇦🇺
Sipping me some serene sonic java @ the penguin cafe...tranquil
these 1920's newsboys sure make music good
They don’t sell them newspapers anymore. They just dress like they do.
Que belleza, amo a la Penguin. Siempre es viajar.
Envolvente, música que arropa y acompaña cuando allá fuera el frío, el dolor y la muerte acechan.
I knew it was going to be awesome when I read the name of the group
Juan Latournerie never judge a book by its cover 😉
Ricercar sounds like an instrumental version of New Model Army's Living in the Rose. Absolutely wonderful music.
Listening to this, I'm reminded of that tense moment when the alien space crafts are hovering above and converging....or maybe I'm reminded of the end to a movie I just watched.... The credits are scrolling past but I'm to dumbfounded to stop the movie and I just keep watching.
Wow that´s amazing
I really enjoyed it.
Perfect throughout nice to hear music played by hand and not in a studio remixed and tampered with raw instruments give more feeling and accomplishment
reminds me of soundtrack music which is awesome
So great it’s carrying on 🙏
That was Awesome!
Dear penguin cafe orchestra people. Bless you.
I found about you guys several decades ago.
I found you again recently and listened to a few tracks and found this one "wheels within wheels" and just got a reccomendation to hear your tiny concert via youtube.
I would like to hereby declare that I send you greetings, happiness and blessings.
I have also added your "wheels within wheels" track to my latest radio show playlist.
Thank you.
I also recently experienced food poisoning after eating raw sprouted kidney beans (as you do) while living in a tower block where I often sit and listen to music late at night while wearing headphones in order not to wake up the small children downstairs who scream loudly when disturbed.
As you do.
I'm just starting out with my radio show now so thank you for your music and for your tune in advance if that's Ok. Thank you.
I will play "wheels within wheels" hopefully in the future not this weekend but the next and hopefully it will be available to be heard on mixcloud.
Thank you for your music always for the music of the past, the now, and the future and blessings always. :-)
Over and out.
My radio station playlist playback (no ads no talking just tunes) can be found here:
www.mixcloud.com/lilolandiae/uploads
Thank you guys for being you :-)
Someone give that pianist an armrest so he doesn't have to hold up his own arm.
wow, this is very good.
Belllisimo, me encanta!
Allemensen, wat is dit godvergeten mooi.
Protection sounds like it could be taken straight from the Coraline OST. Sweet and adventurous
Magnificent.
Amazing.
I really like these guys
oh god.... oh god, im in love
Fantastic
this is soothing
Lovely!