The Penguin Cafe Orchestra

by Hank Davis The Penguin Cafe Orchestra creates dreamlike music. It is beautiful, yet illogical, unpredictable, and often bizarre. Lush violins swirl between classical melodies and country hoedowns. Is that Beethoven or Walk, Dont Run theyre playing? Is that a touch-tone telephone playing the melody? Yes to all the above, and much more. And dont forget the repetition. Things go on just a little longer than you think they should. Remember Supersax, the jazz group that fully orchestrated Charlie Parkers sax solos and gave them a fuller and richer sound? Well, its almost as if The Pengies have taken the two-note picking of Luther Perkins (Johnny Cashs guitarist) and taught his repetitive, minimalist picking to a string quartet. The incredible thing is that these are beautiful, compelling records. You may feel as if you dreamed the whole thing, but it is not a nightmare. Probably because no one knows how to classify their music, Penguin Cafe Orchestra is often described as new-age. Until a better label comes along, dont let that put you off. Instead, find a copy of the album called Penguin Cafe Orchestra — great cover! — and see what the subconscious mind sounds like when its given some stringed instruments to play with.