Penguin Cafe Orchestra ~ 2008 Remasters

Just released are remastered versions of the first five albums by the Penguin Café Orchestra. The brainchild of the late Simon Jeffes, PCO released a series of wonderfully eclectic music, all of which defied description. This was not difficult music, but the mix of unusual instrumentation and Jeffe’s deft handling of highly memorable tunes was a winner. PCO pieces constantly turn up in TV commercials and movies, the most famous being “Music For A Found Harmonium” from the “Broadcasting From Home” album.

These new issues have been remastered by Tony Cousins, overseen by Jeffe’s son Arthur. According to the PCO web site they have been remastered using 1-bit technology which I take as meaning DSD mastered. The sound is crystal clear and dynamically rich in any case. The packaging is very nice. All discs are packaged in glossy digipaks, with the artwork reproducing very clearly the original album artwork. There are no sleeve notes or bonus tracks, simply the recording presented as originally intended. This is a real classy job.