Clues
by Graham Kolbeins
clues

Once upon a time in Montreal in 2003, an indie pop band called The Unicorns emerged out of nowhere and released the type of album that has the power to change people’s lives. That lo-fi masterpiece, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?, would sadly be the band’s one and only full-length release, as The Unicorns were destined to disband before most of their die-hard fans had even discovered them.

Two of the three Unicorns members went on to form the so-so but generally overrated group Islands, but for a long time the world was remiss of any work from the true heart and soul behind The Unicorns, gay musician Alden Penner, who had been only 21 at the height of The Unicorns’ fame. Six years later, Penner’s all grown up, continuing the Unicorns legacy through the sonically stimulating band Clues alongside former Arcade Fire instrumentalist Brendan Reed. Check out a live performance of the track “Remember Severed Head” below:

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Music, Queer | May 25, 2009

  • I was wondering whatever happened to them:)

    Posted by Patrick on May 25th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

  • Alden was not the true heart and soul of The Unicorns! He perhaps represented more of its true heart and soul than Nick, but still.

    Posted by Will Sim on May 25th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

  • And I will readily admit that Clues is better than Islands.

    Posted by Will Sim on May 25th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

  • I keep seeing him biking around Montreal!

    Posted by Charlie on June 14th, 2009 at 6:40 pm

  • I have heard it secondhand that Unicorns will be reuniting imminently.

    Posted by J Beaumont on August 27th, 2009 at 3:03 pm