The Icicle Works "The Small Price of a Bicycle" (1985)

The Small Price of a Bicycle
release date: Sep. 20, 1985
format: vinyl (207 214) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
producer: Wally Brill
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Hollow Horse" - 2. "Perambulator" - 3. "Seven Horses" - 5. "Windfall" (live) - 6. "Assumed Sundown" - 10. "Conscience of Kings"

2nd studio album by The Icicle Works, originally released on Beggars Banquet, introduces a broader and more mainstream sound. The band is still the same trio who founded the band. The album is actually not that far from the style of the debut, but somehow it failed. I think, it was all about sound and style. With this the band placed itself among more traditional artists, and what brought them fame in the first place was being part of the new exiting "what's-going-to-be-of-music-after-punk-scene." And here they kind of say: "we don't want part of that. We're playing pop / rock". Now, it still contains some nice tunes, especially the first two and track 5, but without the jangle pop element and with nice hymn-like ballads like "Rapids" (#4) and lesser songs, I soon lost interest.
Considering the time when everything was moving in all sorts of directions: jangle pop, gothic rock, noise rock and the new synthpop scene with post-punk dissolving into art pop and alt. rock there was little room left for more classic compositions like this. It's just too nicely sounding, altogether; and after this I just didn't pay attention to the music of The Icicle Work, which is kind of hard and sad 'cause Ian McNabb and Co. did know how to make music, and this still proves that, although, it's far from a favourite.
[ 👍allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

The Icicle Works "The Icicle Works" (1984)

The Icicle Works [debut]
release date: Mar. 23, 1984
format: vinyl (V206 187) / cd (1988) / cd (2006 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: Virgin / Beggars Banquet - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Chop the Tree" - 2. "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" - 4. "As the Dragonfly Flies" - 6. "In the Cauldron of Love" - 9. "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (4 / 5)

Studio debut album by Liverpool band The Icicle Works, who at this point were still performing as a trio consisting of primary songwriter Ian McNabb on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards, Chris Layhe on bass and backing vocals, and with Chris Sharrock on drums and percussion.
I recall buying the album back then and finding it truly great. Later on - with the follow-up The Small Price of a Bicycle from '85 I soon tired from McNabb's distinct vocal, and simply because time was against mainstream seeking artists of 'pop / rock' without strong originality.
This album has aged, but it still contains a few fine tracks of the era, and it stands out as the band's finest hour.
The 2006 remaster is released in a 3-disc versions.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

The Icicle Works "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (1984) (single)

Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream), 7'' single
release date: Mar. 1984
format: vinyl (106 327)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: Virgin / Beggars Banquet - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" (4 / 5) - - B) "In the Cauldron of Love"

Single release by The Icicle Works released as a promotional single for the debut album, and with both tracks appearing on the album this is a fine, yet somewhat superfluous single. Initially, it was released by Situation Two - a sub-label of Beggars Banquet as early as June '83 with a different B-side (and cover) with the song "Reverie Girl".

The Icicle Works "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" (1983) (single)

Love Is a Wonderful Colour, 7'' single
release date: Oct. 1983
format: vinyl (106 190)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]
producer: David Lord
label: Virgin / Beggars Banquet - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" - - B) "Waterline"

Single release by Icicle Works taken from the forthcoming debut album.