Alden Penner
Encyclopedia
Alden Penner is a Canadian musician, founder and member of several indie pop
bands. Penner is also a producer
.
Penner is additionally known in the indie music community as the founder and sometimes, owner of indie record labels in addition to producing and sometimes performing on the albums of the artists he is producing.
Penner has worked both composing
music for film soundtrack
s, in addition to scoring
music to movies.
with Nicholas Thorburn
in 2000. Shortly after forming, the band created a demo, entitled Three Inches of Blood
, which they gave to owners of the venues where they played. They then officially released their first album Unicorns Are People Too
on their own label, Caterpillars of the Community.
In 2003, The Unicorns released their only major album, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
. The album garnered critical acclaim.
Penner released a 7" vinyl single
on the Melbourne-based Art School Dropout label. The A-side, The Ghost of Creaky Crater
, was recorded in Melbourne in December 2004 while The Unicorns were touring Australia. The release was limited to 100 copies.
In addition to The Unicorns, Penner had also been creating music since 2002 calling the project All Makes Parts & Collision, although no official releases have stemmed from the project. After The Unicorns disbanded, he played with a number of Montreal
-based bands in addition to live concerts as a solo act. In his time between projects, Penner created the score
for the independent film
The Hamster Cage and managed the Canadian based record label
Take This Hammer
, which he has since put to rest.
Penner debuted his new band Clues
at the Pop Montreal
festival in October 2007. Clues' self-titled debut album was released on May 19, 2009 on Constellation Records
, with a North American tour to follow.
In 2010, Penner announced the creation of a new band called Hidden Words
, which consists of former Unicorns member Jamie Thompson, Eric Farr, James Farr, Neah Kelly, and Marie-Claire Saindon. The band plays music inspired by the Bahá'í Faith
and has played at many shows in Canada. Thompson has said that the first album will be available in the spring, and a second album is in the works.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
bands. Penner is also a producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Penner is additionally known in the indie music community as the founder and sometimes, owner of indie record labels in addition to producing and sometimes performing on the albums of the artists he is producing.
Penner has worked both composing
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
music for film soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s, in addition to scoring
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
music to movies.
Career
The UnicornsThe Unicorns
The Unicorns were a Lo-Fi/Indie Pop band from Montreal, Canada formed in December 2000 by Nicholas Thorburn and Alden Penner , who were later joined by Jamie Thompson in December 2003.-History:...
with Nicholas Thorburn
Nicholas Thorburn
Nicholas Thorburn is a Canadian musician who has fronted The Unicorns, Th' Corn Gangg, Islands, Reefer, and Human Highway. He has gone by the stage name "Nick Diamonds."...
in 2000. Shortly after forming, the band created a demo, entitled Three Inches of Blood
Three Inches of Blood
-Personnel:*Nicholas Thorburn - vocals, keyboards, drum kit*Alden Penner - vocals, guitars, bass, drum kit...
, which they gave to owners of the venues where they played. They then officially released their first album Unicorns Are People Too
Unicorns Are People Too
-Personnel:*Nicholas Thorburn - vocals, keyboards, drum kit, everything*Alden Penner - vocals, guitars, bass, drum kit, everything-Notes:...
on their own label, Caterpillars of the Community.
In 2003, The Unicorns released their only major album, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? is the third and last full-length album of Canadian Indie-rock band The Unicorns. Originally released on CD October 21, 2003, the album was re-released on a black & pink vinyl format in March of 2004....
. The album garnered critical acclaim.
Penner released a 7" vinyl single
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
on the Melbourne-based Art School Dropout label. The A-side, The Ghost of Creaky Crater
The Ghost of Creaky Crater
"The Ghost of Creaky Crater" is a single released by Canadian musician Alden Penner. It was recorded in Melbourne, Australia while his then-band, The Unicorns, were touring the country...
, was recorded in Melbourne in December 2004 while The Unicorns were touring Australia. The release was limited to 100 copies.
In addition to The Unicorns, Penner had also been creating music since 2002 calling the project All Makes Parts & Collision, although no official releases have stemmed from the project. After The Unicorns disbanded, he played with a number of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based bands in addition to live concerts as a solo act. In his time between projects, Penner created the score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
for the independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
The Hamster Cage and managed the Canadian based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Take This Hammer
Take This Hammer
"Take This Hammer" is a prison work song. It was collected by John and Alan Lomax. The song "Nine Pound Hammer" has a few phrases in common with this song, and the same Roud number. "Swannanoa Tunnel" is similar, and this group of songs are referred to as 'hammer songs' or 'roll songs'...
, which he has since put to rest.
Penner debuted his new band Clues
Clues (band)
Clues is an indie pop band from Montreal, Canada formed by Alden Penner, Brendan Reed and Bethany Or. After Or left the band, local musicians Ben Borden, Lisa Gamble and Nick Scribner solidified the lineup.-Formation :...
at the Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal is an annual music festival occurring in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the early fall, usually at the end of September or the beginning of October. More than 400 acts are scheduled to play in more than 50 venues across the city, mostly located in the Mile End area...
festival in October 2007. Clues' self-titled debut album was released on May 19, 2009 on Constellation Records
Constellation Records
Constellation Records is an influential Montreal, Quebec independent record label known for its contributions to experimental genres of music. It is most famous for releasing the albums of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, and Do Make Say...
, with a North American tour to follow.
In 2010, Penner announced the creation of a new band called Hidden Words
Hidden Words
Kalimát-i-Maknúnih or The Hidden Words is a book written in Baghdad around 1857 by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith...
, which consists of former Unicorns member Jamie Thompson, Eric Farr, James Farr, Neah Kelly, and Marie-Claire Saindon. The band plays music inspired by the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
and has played at many shows in Canada. Thompson has said that the first album will be available in the spring, and a second album is in the works.
Discography
- The Ghost of Creaky CraterThe Ghost of Creaky Crater"The Ghost of Creaky Crater" is a single released by Canadian musician Alden Penner. It was recorded in Melbourne, Australia while his then-band, The Unicorns, were touring the country...
- 2000 Three Inches of BloodThree Inches of Blood-Personnel:*Nicholas Thorburn - vocals, keyboards, drum kit*Alden Penner - vocals, guitars, bass, drum kit...
- Unicorns Are People TooUnicorns Are People Too-Personnel:*Nicholas Thorburn - vocals, keyboards, drum kit, everything*Alden Penner - vocals, guitars, bass, drum kit, everything-Notes:...
- Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? is the third and last full-length album of Canadian Indie-rock band The Unicorns. Originally released on CD October 21, 2003, the album was re-released on a black & pink vinyl format in March of 2004....
- 2011 "Odes To The House"