I normally get a bit anxious about hearing solo albums and side projects; however, I’m always down to hear anything by either of the guys behind the Unicorns. Nick has been supplying us with plenty of music from Islands on down to Human Highway, but this is the first new stuff Alden Penner has been involved with in a while. He’s formed Clues with Brendan Reed of the Arcade Fire and has readied their first full-length.

MP3: Clues – Perfect Fit
Love it. The best part is that it really doesn’t have that much in common with the Unicorns or the Arcade Fire. Well, the opening keyboard section does sound like something that could fit alongside the unreleased Unicorns song “Haunted House,” but that’s hardly enough to allow me to say “sounds like the Unicorns.” Really this song is just some spooky minor-key pop music that turns into upbeat pop music.