CityLife

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra

By James Walker

PENGUIN Cafe Orchestra garnered somewhat of a cult following in the 1980s and early 1990s, as Simon Jeffes, the surrealist visionary who remained the main driving force behind the exuberant classical music concept, churned out a clutch of genre-defying songs, all of which were tied together with a unique, ethereal beauty.

Now, more than 10 years after Jeffes’ untimely death, his son Arthur, along with eight farsighted musicians, have found themselves in the midst of a new UK tour that acts as a celebration of Penguin Cafe Orchestra’s timeless, naturalistic ideals.

If your mind draws a blank on the abstract titles of staples including Music for a Found Harmonium, Perpetuum Mobile and Telephone and Rubber Band, have a quick flutter on YouTube and the sheer scale of Penguin Cafe Orchestra’s diversity will soon become apparent.

Is this progressive chamber jazz? A play on quintessential English musings? Or are we firmly grounded in the traditions of Irish folk?  

Beautifully sympathetic  

The honest answer would be all of the above, with a sprinkling of ragtime and bluegrass thrown in for good measure.
 

Music From the Penguin Cafe provide a beautifully sympathetic interpretation of Simon Jeffes’ original vision, and the Royal Northern College of Music was the perfect platform, as the lights slowly shifted from yellow to the palest of blues, marking the almost imperceptible shift between the syncopated African textures of From the Colonies to the hypnotic, lilting Oscar Tango.

Interestingly, although a large percentage of the RNCM audience were no doubt there to hear those gently overpowering songs for which Penguin Cafe Orchestra have become so revered, the nonet’s new ideas went down extremely well.  

Flawless intrepretation  

So much so that one was left with the feeling that the band were almost doing themselves an injustice performing under the shadows of an old moniker.
 

Regardless, after Music From the Penguin Cafe glided their way effortlessly through two 45-minute-long sets and an encore, the only thing left for the audience to do was jump straight to their feet and cheer in utter appreciation...  

In celebration of both the original band’s genius and the new outfit’s flawless interpretation of what once was.

Reviewed: Sun, 07 June, 2009

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