The Icicle Works LINE-UP Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards - Ian McNabb RELATED RELEASES |
NOTES "The first cut is the deepest. Months of recording. Hard work. Stress. Paranoia. We all got good at Monoploy. Didn't want to do another one when we'd finished. Spent most of my time at Rockfield with my head over a bowl of hot water. Lost my voice every two days. Couldn't listen to it for years. Easily the best Icicle Works album." IMc The music written here by McNabb is beautiful, powerful, erudite, literary and tender all at once. This is the debut album from Icicle Works. Beggars. 2003 |
REVIEW
The Icicle Works' self-titled debut as a whole is an excellent example of post-punk power and beauty. "Chop the Tree" alone is something of a lost classic, with Hugh Jones' note-perfect production, Sharrock's pounding, complex rhythm attack, and McNabb's exquisite singing providing one heck of a start. Indeed, McNabb here sounds like a clear precursor to singers like Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy and the equal of the precise diction and passion of Edwin Collins. When it comes to the hits, "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" is another prime vocal showcase, with a sparkling guitar/keyboard lead arrangement and a constantly shifting but never pointlessly show-off bass/drums pace. Frankly, the members of U2 must have wished they could be so emotional and so soaring at this point in their careers. As for "Birds Fly," the song stands as a joyous rave-up of quick drums and shimmering guitars with an inspiring, frenetic chorus tempered by a gentle, half-whispered conclusion. Further examples of the group's abilities crop up song for song: the amazing guitar break and serene conclusion of "Reaping the Rich Harvest," the clean crisp flow of "As the Dragonfly Flies" interrupted by a down and dirty guitar line, the soft pipe start to "Lovers' Day," and more. Concluding with the slow burn fire of "Nirvana," The Icicle Works is early-'80s U.K. rock at its considerable best.
UK, European and Japan Releases [see below for US and Canadian Releases]
IMAGES [UK LP] Beggars Banquet BEGA 50 
[UK CD] Beggars Banquet BEGA 50 CD 
[UK LP RE] Beggars Banquet BBL 50 Cover 
[UK CD RE] Beggars Banquet BBL 50 CD 
[Germany LP] Beggars Banquet 206 187 
| DETAILS [UK LP] Beggars Banquet BEGA 50 Tracks
NOTES Published by Chappell Music Ltd., except *Published by Rock City Music Ltd. [UK LP] Beggars Banquet BEGA 50 Front sleeve has a sticker (yellow with black type) that reads as follows: "BB SRP £3.99 SPECIAL LOWDOWN LOW PRICE" Rear sleeve has a sticker (yellow with black type) that reads as follows: "WHEN RE-ORDERING USE NEW PREFIX BBL FOLLOWED BY THE ORIGINAL NUMBER MADE IN ENGLAND" In both runout groove matrix no.s, "DAMONT" is upside down. In order to distinguish this release from the one from which it has been copied (see submission notes), I've copied the following label text as laid out on the label. Side A label: [Block of text on the right hand side:] Made in England SIDE ONE BEGA 50 BEGA 50 A* ℗ 1984 Beggars Banquet, except *℗ 1983 Beggars Banquet 33⅓ RPM STEREO [Block of text at the bottom:] All titles composed by Ian McNabb and published by Chappell Music Ltd. Produced by Hugh Jones, except * Produced by David Lord, Mixed by Hugh Jones Side B label: [Block of text on the right hand side:] Made in England SIDE TWO BEGA 50 BEGA 50 B* ℗ 1984 Beggars Banquet, except *℗ 1983 Situation Two 33⅓ RPM STEREO [Block of text at the bottom:] All titles composed by Ian McNabb and published by Chappell Music Ltd., except *Published by Rock City Music Ltd. Produced by Hugh Jones Side A and B labels: Distributed by [WEA logo] Records Ltd a Warner Communications Company [Warner logo] BARCODE INFORMATION Matrix Number (Side A Label): BEGA 50 A Matrix Number (Side B Label): BEGA 50 B Matrix Number (Side A Runout Groove Hand-Etched): BEGA-50·B-1 MT.1 DB.TAPE ONE DAMONT Matrix Number (Side B Runout Groove Hand-Etched): BEGA-50·A-1 DB.TAPE ONE MT.1 DAMONT G [Jap LP] Victor Musical Industries VIL-6116 Comes with a lyric insert and OBI strip |
US and Canadian Releases
[US LP] Arista AL 6-8202 Covers 
[US Cassette] Arista AC6-8202 
[Canadian LP] Vertigo VOM-1-3337 
[US CD] Arista ARCD-8202 
[Japan LP] Victor Musical Industries VIL-6116 
| [US LP] Arista AL 6-8202 Tracks
CREDITS Arranged By - The Icicle Works NOTES Digitally remastered at Sterling Sound, NYC. [Canadian LP] Vertigo VOM-1-3337 Tracks
NOTES Track listing on sleeve is in an incorrect order. Manufactured by Polygram Inc. and distributed by Polygram Distribution Inc. |
