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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZICICLE WORKSUK new wave trio formed in Liverpool '80 by Ian McNabb, guitars, keyboards, vocals; Chris Layhe, bass, keyboards, violin; Chris Sharrock, drums. First release was 6-track EP cassette, attracting the attention of BBC disc jockey John Peel: works combined the wordiness of Julian Cope with the grandiose guitar sound of Wah!, also emulating both with dollops of '60s influences. Album Icicle Works '84 prod. by Hugh Jones (Echo And The Bunnymen); single from it "Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)' made no. 37 in USA after they toured there with the Pretenders and Dave Gilmour. "Nirvana', UK-only release on own Troll kitchen label had reached no. 15 on indie chart, but their only proper top 40 success in UK came with Arthur Lee-infl. "Love Is A Wonderful Colour' from the debut LP, also at no. 15. "Birds Fly' made only no. 53 on UK re-release; LP no. 25 UK LP chart (top 40 USA); second LP The Small Price Of A Bicycle '85 with Jacques Loussier guesting on keyboards was ignored by the music press; several singles in wildly varying styles sold poorly; release of greatest non-hits Seven Singles Deep (on Beggars Banquet in UK, Arista in USA) smacked of desperation to some. They had just graduated from guitar-based USA styles when the UK audience fell for the likes of Rain Parade, Long Ryders etc; McNabb, like Cope, threatened to produce more than just nostalgia, but the UK pop audience won't rate an act which remains defiantly uncategorisable. Further albums incl. Blind and If You Want To Defeat The Enemy Sing His Song (incl. "Understanding Jane'); they threw in the towel. McNabb solo albums in the '90s were These Are The Days on Fat Cat Jazz, Truth And Beauty and Head Like A Rock on Polygram labels. |