Penny Ikinger Electra CD

This is a strong debut for Penny Ikinger. The songwriting is solid, with a personal voice already peeking its head through the guitar textures. The singer/guitarist has a knack for catchy melodies. Their immediate charm, almost pop at times, is counterbalanced by her sleazy guitar playing -- Françoise Hardy backed by Makoto Kawabata, perhaps? No, that may be going a little bit too far, but there is something of Hardy and Marianne Faithfull in Ikinger's voice and delivery. And there's something resolutely psychedelic in her band arrangements. Overdriven double bass and triple-layer fuzz guitars form an engaging background. It's a wonder the singer manages to remain on top most of the time. The album starts very nicely with "Poison Berries," a tight song with alternative radio appeal. And it doesn't reveal everything right from the start; it has a certain refrained attitude, as if Ikinger was waiting for the listener to get comfortable before cranking the amps and letting it loose. The same applies to "Kathleen," a nice song but somewhat too gentle (a video for it, directed by Rachel Lucas, is included on this enhanced CD). Listeners reach cruising speed with "Electra" and "Shipwrecked." "Maid of Orleans" explores different textures, including a string quartet and an antique waltz rhythm. In the last third of the album Ikinger tries a softer approach, playing charm over power. It works well and you may find that the closing "Gladly Slip Away" is very reminiscent of Concrete Blonde -- a comparison that should be considered a compliment. ~ François Couture

Penny Ikinger presents her debut album Electra. Electra is an audacious production. Penny Ikinger mixes heavy rock and electronic distortion layers with folk refrains and pop delights. Known for her career as a guitarist with Australian acts WET TAXIS & LOUIS TILLETT, Ikinger has also played with other Australian legends like KIM SALMON & TEX PERKINS. She now takes the stand as a singer/songwriter - a lone star. This outstanding debut is released on the American label Career Records and has excited reviewers across Australia, the USA and beyond. Career Records is the brainchild of the legendary Radio Birdman guitarist DENIZ TEK and producer RON SANCHEZ ."All woman and all business - the Australian singer-guitarist - a graduate of the Radio Birdman school of axe warfare- unveils a fetching line of balladry here: black-hearted folk song draped in fuzz, topped with a dark, baby-doll whisper...imagine Nico channeling Sandy Denny in front of Blue Oyster Cult - and you're close".David Fricke, Senior Editor, Rolling Stone (USA), Nov 2003Electra features ten tracks produced by Penny Ikinger and Hothouse engineer CRAIG HARNATH. Electra has received accolades world-wide. Critics from New York magazines The Village Voice and The Big Takeover placed Electra in their Top Ten albums of 2003 (#2 for both). Electra also appeared in more Top Ten lists in America, Canada and Australia. Ikinger was awarded an International Touring Grant from ARTS VICTORIA and toured the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to promote her album in 2004. "...combining a dangerously seductive voice with a guitar she makes sound so alive it breathes..." Fred E Gostein, City Search (Australia)Electra is an enhanced CD and includes a video for the track Kathleen. Directed by RACHAEL LUCAS this video was nominated for an award at The Melbourne Film Festival and received national airplay. Penny Ikinger contributed music to the soundtrack of Bondi Tsunami, a Japanese surf road movie by RACHAEL LUCAS released in 2004. Penny also joined SALMON as guitarist in the big band featuring five guitarists and two drummers led by Scientist Kim Salmon in 2004.Penny Ikinger - Electra SELECT QUOTES "Incredibly cool femme fatal laid-back noise rock by Australian guitar beauty ... Ikinger's voice and amazing guitar work makes this one helluva solid piece of female rock..." (lowcut USA *****) Lowcut (USA) - Top 5 Albums for 2003 (Intern