Some people are fierce fussy about names. Already, there are several readers who have seen the moniker that New Yorker Chris Glover has chosen and have decided that it’s not for them. And that’s without hearing a note of music. The thought of an act called Penguin Prison brings some folks out in a rash, while other have called it “the worst band name ever”.
They obviously never encountered Cactus World News or Cry Before Dawn.
But as is usually the case, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Glover may have a chequered history when it comes to looking for a break in the music business, but he’s finally found the golden ticket with Penguin Prison’s oddball, enticing, daring electro-pop.
Glover's fix on chic pop sass is clear to behold on the Animal Animalsingle for Neon Gold. Then, there are the remixes he's done for the likes of Ellie Goulding (in which Theophilus London throws down some lines on Starry Eyedand boosts the tune into the stratosphere), Marina the Diamonds, Sebastien Tellier and Erik Hassle. In all of the above, Glover shows that he clearly does have it going on.
Penguin Prison is not, though, Glover’s first bite at the pop cherry. He used to sing in a choir alongside Alicia Keys, had a flirtation with hip-hop, chanced his arm in a boy band and did some time in a couple
of NYC punk groups. It wasn’t until he turned his attention to Penguin Prison that he finally got all his ducks in a row (so to speak). We await the album he’s recording with Dan Grech and Crispin Hunt with great interest.
- www.myspace.com/ penguinprison
