Chloe Alper

Chloe Alper
Background information
Origin Reading, Berkshire, UK
Genres Progressive rock, alternative rock, new prog
Instruments Vocals, bass, keyboard
Years active 1997—present
Associated acts Pure Reason Revolution, Period Pains, Tiny Giant
Website tinygiantmusic.com

Chloë Alper is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She began her music career in 1996 with girl punk band Period Pains, she was the singer and bassist in the British new prog rock group Pure Reason Revolution and is currently performing as half of the British rock duo Tiny Giant. Her solo release, "Juno", features on the original motion picture soundtrack to the 2013 film Maniac.

Biography

Period Pains

Born September 13, 1981, from the age of 13, Alper fronted the cult Riot grrrl punk band Period Pains, based in Reading. The band formed in 1995 with Alper on vocals, Felicity Aldridge on guitar, Laura Warwick on bass and Laura Viney on drums. Viney was later replaced by Magdalena (Magda) Przybylski.

Their 1997 anti-Spice Girls single, "Spice Girls (Who Do YOU Think You Are?)", was released on Damaged Goods. The disc received airplay from John Peel, for whom they later recorded a session which was later released as an EP.[1] The band were highlighted by John Peel in his Festive 50 for 1997.[2] The band were covered by publications including The Daily Mail and Just 17 but only played a few live shows, notably opening in the Dr Martens tent for the 1997 Reading Festival.

Pure Reason Revolution

Alper performing with Pure Reason Revolution

Alper then joined Reading-based band The Sunset Sound, which eventually became Pure Reason Revolution, contributing vocals, picking up the bass guitar later after the previous bassist left.[3] Alper also plays keyboards, including a midi sample-triggering keyboard during live performances. In shows in 2010 and 2011 she also played an Epiphone SG guitar on certain tracks.

The band signed to Alan McGee's Poptones label for a one-off release of "Apprentice of the Universe",[4] which peaked at number 12 in the indie charts. Signing to SonyBMG in autumn 2004, the following year saw Pure Reason Revolution releasing two singles and one mini-album, followed by the full-length debut The Dark Third in 2006, with producer Paul Northfield.[5] During this time, PRR supported Mew, Hope of the States, Porcupine Tree, Secret Machines and Oceansize, as well as headlining their own gigs, and recorded sessions for Mark Radcliffe's BBC Radio 2 show and XFM.

The band's second album Amor Vincit Omnia was released in March 2009 on Superball Music, and accompanied by an extensive headline tour of Britain and Europe.[6] The band were track of the week on Kerrang! Radio and track of the day in Classic Rock Magazine.[7] The new music was darker and more electronic than previous offerings, qualities that were largely retained for 2010's third studio album, Hammer and Anvil, also released via Superball. Hammer and Anvil opens with a track sung exclusively by Alper, Fight Fire, which received lengthy airtime on XFM and other radio stations.[8]

Pure Reason Revolution split on good terms in November 2011, with members choosing to pursue other projects. A final series of concerts in the UK saw the Dark Third album played in full for the first time.[9][10] A final EP entitled Valour was also released as a download-only in conjunction with the break up, with proceeds donated to charity.

Alper in 2010

Solo Releases

In 2013, Alper began work on a solo project for which she recorded songs in collaboration with Tom Bellamy (of The Cooper Temple Clause and Losers), who worked on Pure Reason Revolution's final album, Hammer and Anvil) and Robin Coudert (of Phoenix).[11] "Juno", written by Alper and Coudert, is featured on the original motion picture soundtrack to the 2013 film Maniac.[12][13]

Tiny Giant

In 2014 Alper announced she had formed a new band – Tiny Giant – with her co-writer; the Grammy and MOBO nominated multi-instrumentalist Mat Collis. Their first release soundtracked Vanity Fair's "Playhouse Presents" series for Sky Arts[14]

Artist

Alper is also a designer and artist. She designed the cover-slip for Pure Reason Revolution's single entitled "Victorious Cupid" that was distributed at tours in 2006 and 2007 to accommodate the free Myspace download, which has since become a collector's item. She also designed the cover art for the official "Victorious Cupid" EP release on ORG records in 2008. Recently, she designed the artwork for Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison's 2007 collaboration with 05Ric, Drop. Alper also designed the album artwork for Pure Reason Revolution's 2009 release, Amor Vincit Omnia. The sleeve contained a 16-page booklet which included 12 pieces of her work. Some limited edition numbered prints of these plates were made available on her website in early 2009.

DJ

Alper often performs under the pseudonym 'Chloe Ramone'.

References

  1. ↑ "Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – 19 August 1997 Period Pains". BBC. 19 August 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/festive50s/1990s/1997/
  3. ↑ "Global Fender". Fender.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  4. ↑ Dave Simpson (7 April 2006). "CD: Pure Reason Revolution, The Dark Third | Music". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "Pure Reason Revolution – The Dark Third – Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "Pure Reason Revolution – March 2009 UK Tour – Local bands – Music – Entertainment – getwokingham – The Wokingham Times". getwokingham. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "Classic Rock " Blog Archive " Track of the Day: Pure Reason Revolution". Classicrockmagazine.com. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  8. ↑ "Live Shows + Fight Fire on the Radio! van Pure Reason Revolution op Myspace". Myspace.com. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  9. ↑ Reviews, Media (9 August 2011). "All Media Reviews: Pure Reason Revolution BREAK UP". Allmediareviews.blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  10. ↑ "Pure Reason Revolution – break up and cancelling tour " Muzikantenweb Magazine". Musiccredo.wordpress.com. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  11. ↑ http://www.o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk/event/37366/uh-huh-her-tickets/ArtistsDetails
  12. ↑ http://www.flood-band.co.uk/
  13. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2103217/soundtrack
  14. ↑ http://www.sky.com/tv/show/playhouse-presents/video/vanity-fair-photoshoot

External links

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