THE IMPERFECT SEA

Sorta decent chamber-avantgarde-post-pop secreted. A British dectet PENGUIN CAFE were founded in 2009 as the successor of The PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA (PCO) by Arthur JEFFES, son of the leader of PCO Simon JEFFES. Regardless of the similarities in the moniker, PENGUIN CAFE have apparently different elements from the original PCO. This makes sense in general via "The Imperfect Sea" released as their third album in 2017. Based upon chamber rock, their soundscape is filled with avant-garde moments and dissonant touches, and especially catchy vibes.

From the first shot "Ricercar" we are drenched in their repetitive hallucinogenic psychedelia seasoned with post-rock- ish violin-oriented dissonance. Light-touched and crispy percussion sounds quite simple but pleasant for us. Another comfort is flexible piano playing. Delightful departure really. "Cantorum", on the contrary, has somewhat depressive, serious flavour all around. The whole atmosphere is not heavy but energetic enough to vibrate our inner mind. "Control 1 (Interlude)", one of my favourite stuffs actually, is quiet and monotonous basically. Simultaneously this interlude involves massive beauty and fragility to infiltrate our stomach. Quivering violin sounds work incredibly.

Their homage "Franz Schubert'' possesses tiny, soft and smooth texture that reminds us of the same vein of Schubert's piano sonatas (I love D960 full of safe and sound). Their sound simplicity should be pretty suggestive. In the shortest track "Half Certainty" delicate melodica sounds under percussive xylophone attraction are acceptable and positive. "Protection" kinda dramatic chamber pop would be veiled in complicated melody lines and quirky sound cracks potentialized by the violin. The combination sounds a bit mysterious indeed.

Theatrical post rock "Rescue" should be called as another masterpiece for them. They never lose understandable vision even on the track but utilize serious atmosphere and mystically fascinating distortion fully all over.. The last phase filled with sincere, precise dectet crystals is very impressive and moving. In "Now Nothing (Rock Music)" they might want to say rock is hibernated I guess ... as if the title would mention rock has no future ... wondering why this creation sounds sorrowful. The last lyrical epilogue "Wheels Within Wheels" configured with repetitive percussive phrases like the first track provides us obvious desert rock and enthusiastic inner oasis, that we cannot help feeling motivative.

This creation cannot be classified easily but shou include colourful essence mentioned above. A good one.