London
22 March 2022
The original Penguin Café Orchestra was formed in 1972 by guitarist Simon Jeffes and cellist Helen Liebmann. They released their first album in 1976, produced by Brian Eno and released on his Obscure Records series of recordings, and the band gave its first major concert in 1976 supporting Kraftwerk at The Roundhouse.
The band over the years would include such musicians as producer Steve Nye, King Crimson drummer Michael Giles and violinist Nigel Kennedy. After a five-year hiatus in recordings, the band would finally release its second album in 1981. Using a mixture of folk music and minimalism they became influential, and this included Japan bassist Mick Karn naming his short-lived Café after them.
Sadly, Jeffes passed away in 1997 and the Café seemed to close. Several original members reunited in 2007 to play some concerts, but it wasn’t until 2009 that Arthur Jeffes founded a successor group, taking the orchestra off the name so that the new band’s output would be distinct from his father’s work.The Barbican is abuzz tonight, packed full of people all waiting for the return of the band to the stage after a two-year absence. Although a slightly smaller line-up than some of their shows, this made no difference to the overall sound as the group were magnificent, melancholy and otherworldly at times. The one big difference between the new Café works compared to the Orchestra of old was that the minimalist aspects of the sound were far more prevalent, especially on the beautiful tracks from the last album, 2019’s Handfuls Of Night.
Tonight the Café was open for two sets with no support act, which was perfect for their triumphant live return. Arthur Jeffes was the spokesperson for the group, introducing each song by giving a little history about the track and adding in some humour as well, as if he was having a casual conversation at his piano near the bar.Swathed in subtle lighting, the band took us through the Penguin concept of the new album with “Winter Sun” shimmering with gentle piano and hovering strings. “Chinstrap” is a melancholic and melodic ode to a type of penguin, we are informed, and “Chapter” gets quite funky at times, in a seventies cop-theme type of way and shakes the band out of its ambient haze for a while.
With the tenth anniversary release of their debut album A Matter Of Life due out soon, it gave the band a chance to dust off earlier pieces such as “Landau” and the wonderful “From A Blue Temple”. Throughout, Jeffes’ piano playing is exquisite, being both subtle when it needs to be and full of energy the next, and sometimes I sat there just in awe watching him caress those melodies out of the ivories.
For me, the big surprise was the inclusion of the song “The Sound Of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away And It Doesn’t Matter” (Jeffes: “My father had a knack of coming up with catchy titles”), which was the first track I had heard by the Orchestra and one that has stayed with me for many years.
When they had finished, the band was greeted with a standing ovation which they richly deserved. Throughout the course of more than two hours they had taken us through a series of emotions from quiet contemplative pieces to slightly more avant-garde work, and even a bit funked-up dance (well, as close as the Penguins can get to that).The general feeling was of a very emotional evening and, in a way, a kind of joyful reunion of kindred spirits all looking for some beautiful music to ease us through these troubled times. Each of us found it at The Barbican, music to make our spirits fly given to us by a bird who cannot fly itself. Let’s hope the Café opens again soon and we can imbibe in their delicious cocktail of music again.
-Gary Parsons-
