Handfuls of Night is boldly cinematic and sounds more isolating than ever. It's the group's most consistent release yet, making it a hypnotic stay in Arthur Jeffes' own world.
Penguin Cafe is the musical project under Simon Jeffes' son, Arthur, which started around ten years ago. The initial goal of Penguin Cafe was to be an ode and continuation of Simon's influential Penguin Cafe Orchestra, which existed through three decades. Although Arthur's group can't help but be compared to his father's group, I would say that Jeffes has taken his own identity and personality on mixing classical music with minimal electronica and ambient music. Penguin Cafe have definitely been a very watchable group over the years, especially with albums like A Matter of Life... and The Red Book. Jeffes and company have proven to be great performers and have made very stunning pieces of compositions such as the moving "This, Not That" or the ever winding "Ricercar," the latter being my personal favorite of theirs. With each album, they've become more consistent, solid, and surprising. The Imperfect Sea, their last record, was a solid collection of original material and covers of electronic favorites. Although having a handful of great moments, it still seemed like a mixed bag of sorts.
On the group's new album and second to be released on Erased Tapes, Handfuls of Night is by far their most consistent album yet in terms of narrative and sound. Initially commissioned by Greenpeace to create pieces to help raise awareness of endangered species of penguins, the record directly tells Jeffes' personal tales of the arctic, penguins, and his father. The album itself is boldly cinematic and sounds like it could definitely narrate a documentary about endangered penguins or how climate change is effecting the arctic. At times, it can be very breathtaking and moving like their past work has successfully been, this time sounding more isolated than ever. "Winter Sun" sets the mood quick with chillingly loud bass that subtly shakes the room yet deepens through your headphones. "Chinstrap" has a very gracious and carefree movement, reminding me of the joyfully moving moments from A Matter of Life... "Chapter," a stunning highlight, is much more intense and epic , while its details are enriched with its progression and movement throughout the song, reminding me of one of my past favorites, "Cantorum."
"Adelie" is one of the most beautiful and quiet moments on the album, swaying back and forth with its sharp strings. "At the Top of a Hill, They Stood..." initially was released as the first single and I loved it from first listen. It quickly became a huge highlight on the record and from Jeffes, with its fluttering piano, soft melodies that quickly become louder and more engaging as it rises and rises in progression. "Pythagoras on the Line Again" is a continuation of PCO's song under the same name from 1993. There seems to be plenty of different synchronizations of beeping throughout, similar to a heartbeat monitor or motion censor of a car. It definitely adds to the track and is one of the more experimental moments, intensifying as the beeps go faster. "The Life of an Emperor" is very whimsical and flows like the chilling winds of the arctic at night. "Gentoo Origin" has more of a percussive focus and "Midnight Sun" closes the album off with some gorgeously dark piano melodies that's very haunting, making the song sound very similar to its name.
Handfuls of Night is yet another solid release from the group. It's well performed, put together, and composed. The themes and narrative make the album a hypnotic stay in Jeffes' own world. It definitely makes sense that some of the pieces were originally meant to be known as urging the audience about how climate change impacts of nature and penguin life right now. The overall album feels that way to me thematically, especially about the arctic, and it is certainly moving without any visuals either. There are plenty of memorable moments and some of their better songs have winded up on here, like "Chapter" and "At the Top of a Hill, They Stood..." Some of the tracks are better than others and there are some moments that aren't as captivating or memorable. Overall though, Handfuls of Night is a gripping and thematic listen with some very delightful outcomes.
My Rating: 7 / 10
Favorite Songs: "At the Top of a Hill, They Stood...," "Chapter," "Adelie," "Pythagoras on the Line Again," "Chinstrap"
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