Tag Archives: Penguin Cafe

Switched On – Penguin Cafe: Rain Before Seven… (Erased Tapes)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is the fifth album for Penguin Cafe in their second incarnation under Arthur Jeffes. As its title perhaps implies, Rain Before Seven… is looking to reassert the band’s Englishness, while simultaneously looking to recapture the slightly whimsical and humourous approach Arthur’s dad Simon made so natural in the group’s first period. There is also a concerted effort to use more of Jeffes’ considerable percussion arsenal, drawing on objects from around the globe to give the music a cosmopolitan edge.

What’s the music like?

Arthur wholeheartedly succeeds in his aims, for Rain Before Seven…is a fine piece of work and one that will frequently make its listener smile.

There is a wide-eyed innocence to the strings that come into Galahad, while Re Budd relocates to the Caribbean with an accurate evocation of steelpans. Goldfinch Yodel takes on the air of a country dance, while the more serious Might Be Something becomes a heartfelt reflection.

Does it all work?

Yes. Richly scored and packed with melodic content, this is an album with a great deal for the listener to enjoy.

Is it recommended?

It is – and while the other four albums under Arthur Jeffes have been successful, this goes the extra mile for colour and flair. The best modern Penguin Cafe album yet.

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New music and album from the Penguin Cafe

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Photo credit (c) Alex Kozobolis

Good news for fans of the Penguin Cafe – the Arthur Jeffes-led ensemble have a new album setting foot on land in October.

For more than 35 years the Penguin Cafe name has stood for music free of constraint that looks to explore and embrace the colours of acoustic instruments around the world, enjoying the influence of classical music as it does so. The Jeffes name has been behind it from 1973, when Simon Jeffes began the group with cellist Helen Liebmann. More recently a second incarnation of the group, led by Simon’s son Arthur, was sealed by the 2017 album The Imperfect Sea.

At the core of the band’s message has been the state of the natural world, and as the press release details the new album Handfuls Of Night ‘began life after Greenpeace commissioned Jeffes to write four pieces of music corresponding to four breeds of penguins, to help raise awareness for the endangered Antarctic seas.

A fundraising evening at EartH in Hackney followed, where Penguin Cafe premiered the four songs named after their feathered counterparts to a sold out audience; the rousing contemporary folk inflected Chinstrap, the mournful and minimalistic Adelie, stoic and rhythmic The Life of an Emperor and the wistful, string-laden Gentoo Origin.

All appear on the new album, which has at its heart the soothing At The Top of the Hill, They Stood…, which you can hear below. Here the piano arpeggios are reassured by soft bass drum and woozy harmonium:

It bodes well for the long player. Handfuls of Night is out on October 4th on Erased Tapes, together with a set of UK live dates, ahead of a world tour in 2020. You can pre-order the album here