Erased Tapes releasing Penguin Cafe Orchestra’s Union Cafe on vinyl for the first time

Eno and Kraftwerk-loved orchestrals.

Union Cafe, the final studio album from English composer and multi-instrumentalist Simon Jeffes’ Penguin Cafe Orchestra, is being released on vinyl for the first time, by Erased Tapes this December.

Jeffes founded Penguin Cafe Orchestra in 1972, inspired by vivid, accidental poisoning-induced, dream tripping.

Helmed by Jeffes – who recorded many of the instrumentals on the group’s studio albums – PCO released their debut LP on Brian Eno’s Obscure Records label in 1976, before playing their first major concert opening for Kraftwerk at London’s Roundhouse later that year.

“Union Cafe was the last studio album recorded by the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra and marked a move towards a definitive English pastoral sound combined with larger string arrangements set against longer solo piano pieces,” shares Simon’s son Arthur.

The album’s release commemorates the 20th anniversary of Simon’s passing. Arthur’s group Penguin Cafe will also be performing Union Cafe in full, 11th December at London’s Union Chapel.

Pre-order a copy here ahead of its 1st December release, check out the track list and listen to single ‘Nothing Really Blue’ below.

Tracklist

2. Lifeboat (Lovers Rock)

3. Nothing Really Blue

4. Cage Dead

5. Vega

6. Yodel 3

7. Organum

8. Another One From Porlock

9. Thorn Tree Wind

10. Silver Star Of Bologna

11. Discover America

12. Pythagoras On The Line

13. Kora Kora

14. Lie Back And Think Of England

15. Red Shorts

16. Passing Through