The Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music From The Penguin Cafe
I'm definitely more of a fan of Side 2 than Side 1 here: Simon Jeffes is at his best as a composer when he's going for more exploratory, lengthier forays into his melodies and a core motif. When he's particularly inspired, such as the beautiful 'The sound of someone you love...", you can appreciate the odd synthesis of stringed instrumentation with the less folksy elements more common in R.I.O. or Zeuhl music of the late 70's / early 80's (or perhaps even The Residents, though without the emphasis on atonality).
That being said, this is Eno's album too in a sense despite the fact he didn't write the music. His production and direction is fantastic without overstating any one element. Subtle, timeless, whatever you want to call it. His sonic manipulations here and there add a flavor to the experimentation that I hear echoed in everything from late 80's Talk Talk to the work of Toby Driver (maudlin of the Well), so I can tell this was a pivotal listening experience for many musicians at some point in their careers even if I'm only a fan of a scattering of pieces here myself.
I'll go with a strong 7 out of 10.
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