Penguin Cafe Orchestra

It has been ten years since the founder of Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Simon Jeffes, died tragically and ended the run of this fantastic and ever-changing lineup of musicians. Most active during the 1980s, they are among the most difficult groups to characterize into a single genre. Some of their most innovative stuff used electronic sampling and put them on tour with Kraftwerk, meanwhile they have songs that could be qualified as new age, folk, symphonic and even country/western. What ties their music together is a sublime attention to detail and a refusal to follow established rules and conventions. Simon once said "the quality of randomness, spontaneity, surprise, unexpectedness and irrationality in our lives is a very precious thing" and it shows in their music.

Enjoy these clips from a 1989 BBC special.

My personal favorite, Perpetuum Mobile:

Their most famous song which has been covered by many Irish outfits, Music for a Found Harmonium:

A lovely number, Air A Danser:

A very spirited number, Salty Bean Fumble: