 |
Circumstantial
|
by ERIK LEIJON Information has been hard to come by concerning the ever-so-mysterious and long-awaited new project from ex-Unicorn Alden Penner and ex-Arcade Fire member Brendan Reed. Having only christened the appropriate band name Clues shortly beforehand, the duo first poked their heads out when they closed out 2007’s Pop Montreal, and since then have only played sporadic shows and dispensed a few musical samples online. “It becomes kind of a treasure hunt for intrepid Internet travellers,” says Penner, recognizing that the band’s lack of a Web site, MySpace page, Facebook group or much of any Internet presence whatsoever has made Clues sort of technology-rejecting mavericks, or at least career masochists. “I think it’s a conscious decision. It’s built into the band that there’s a desire to have a certain kind of intrigue. The increase in availability of information has not really increased our understanding of the things we’re studying, rather than just being saturated by them.” Another possible reason for the coy nature of the project, starring two of Montreal’s most noted indie rock figures, is simply that frontman/guitarist Penner and drummer Reed have worked together countless times before, including when both were still in their respective bands. Nothing had ever really materialized beyond the conceptual stage, and Penner still isn’t precisely sure how Clues managed to buck the trend by becoming a full-fledged five-piece with a self-titled debut album and upcoming tour. Much of the ideas on the first record are an accumulation of these previous collaborations, although the album was recorded in earnest over two months this past winter at Hotel2Tango and Petite Église in Farnham as a full band. “I found that every project we would do together would have this sort of short lifespan, and it felt as if we were starting from scratch every time. It almost continues to feel that way, or maybe we’ve become used to operating as a temporary thing.” Although the group has shrouded themselves in opacity, Clues’ spastic approach to pop songwriting should be no mystery to listeners of their previous works. Despite the close relationship between the Unicorns and Arcade Fire seemingly eons ago, Penner and Reed come from different schools of songwriting—Penner is more of a pop and melody guy, while Reed is more adept at arrangements. The group is rounded out by multi-instrumentalists Lisa Gamble, Ben Borden and Nick Scribner, and the final result is naturally a very dense, layered record. The current quintet made their first appearance at last May’s Cheap Thrills 35th Anniversary Show, and since then have been mapping out their future as a band, shaped not only by their enthusiasm for travelling (now that the typically multitasking Penner has completed his work producing the music for the upcoming film Paper Heart, Clues is his sole musical endeavour), but also the cautionary tale that is the Unicorns’ demise. “With the Unicorns, there were so many ideas contained with one album, it might have been an entire career encapsulated in what had already been achieved,” explains Penner, who says the Unicorns’ quick burn-out explains why he and Reed have been working on Clues at a snail’s pace by comparison. “I feel like with Clues, there’s the foreknowledge of that danger of over-touring or of pushing any one aspect of the band to a degree where not everyone is comfortable. I guess the important thing is right now Clues is getting it done—somehow, in some way.” DOUBLE CD LAUNCH WITH ELFIN SADDLE |
