PENNY IKINGER

In the beginning Penny Ikinger played guitar in the fabulous Wet Taxis - the start of a long and fruitful collaboration with Sydney piano legend Louis Tillett. The Taxis played their own vibrant interpretation of sixties psychedelic punk. They released the album, 'From The Archives' and singles including the sublime "Sailor's Dream" and toured throughout Australia. Following up this success Ikinger continued to play and record with Tillett as he launched his solo career - her spacious guitar behind Tillett's punchy blues and soul offerings displaying her brilliant ability to compliment songwriters. They toured throughout Australia and Europe.

In between dates with Tillett, Ikinger has lent her sizzling sounds to several acts. One, Kings of the World with ex Saint Janine Hall. Shifting her base from Sydney to Melbourne Ikinger joined Red Dress with Cathy Green from Oz punk originals X. They released the album 'Tight'. It wasn't long before the legendary kings of Melbourne rock, the Sacred Cowboys introduced the powerful melodic edge of Ikinger's electric guitar to their mud splattered mayhem. Check out the album 'Things to Come'. Other recording dates followed - including Kim Salmon & the Surrealists' on 'You Gotta Let Me Do My Thing' and Tex Perkins' 'Far Be It From Me'.

Linking up with Caroline Kennedy just from The Plums and soon for Deadstar they created Salon Baby, her ability to enrich songs in demand again and then went solo. In 2001 Penny Ikinger commenced recording her debut solo album 'Electra', Melbourne, Australia. Working on a clash of melody and discordance Ikinger said: "I want it to feel like a Fellini film".In Nov 2001 Penny released her debut solo EP "Songs from the Deep" to critical acclaim. The three track EP also featured an appearance by long time musical colleague Louis Tillett who contributed piano and deep as the ocean backing vocals on the song "Sponge Diver". This dark and evocative EP received national and international airplay

In May 2002 her video for the song "Kathleen" (from "Songs from the Deep") was a finalist at the SoundKilda Film Festival (Melbourne, Australia). Emerging film maker Rachael Lucas captures the essence of Ikinger's unique sound visually in a midday martini of beads, bubbles, fur and fender feedback. July 2002 saw the completion of her debut solo album 'Electra' and by the end of the year she had signed with Career Records (USA). Based in Montana this label is the progeny of Radio Birdman guitar legend Deniz Tek. 'Electra' was released in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia in September 2003. It scored a rave review from David Fricke, Senior Editor of American Rolling Stone and critics in the USA, Canada and Australia placed Electra in their Top Ten Albums of 2003.

She toured America to promote her album 'Electra' in May/April 2004 as part of the Career Records "Mini Van of Stars " entourage. She also toured Australia and New Zealand. In 2005 she joined Scientist/Surrealist Kim Salmon's band Salmon as a member of his six(!) guitar line-up. In 2006 her 'Electra' album was released on vinyl by Bang! Records (Spain) and Ikinger toured Europe and also played shows in Tokyo, Japan in 2008. Her EP 'Fragile' was released in 2009 and promoted by tours of Europe and Australia. In 2010 she released her second solo album 'Penelope' on Citadel Records.

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