Since 1980, Icehouse has released seven albums, several compilations, and music from collaborations with other artists including dance companies. Their 1987 album 'Man of Colours' was released at the apex of their fame and international success. It is considered by many to be the band's magnum opus.
As 'Flowers', Icehouse built up a strong following as a live act around Sydney, Australia, noted for their distinctive cover versions of songs by a wide range of acts including T-Rex and Brian Eno. After signing to the independent Regular Festival Records label, they released their debut single, "Can't Help Myself", which hit the Australian Top 10 in June 1980. This was followed by their first album 'Icehouse', which also made the Top 10 and became one of year's biggest selling albums in Australia. The album made use of synthesisers, especially the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5.
Further singles "We Can Get Together" and "Walls" both hit the Top 20. A European single from this album, "Icehouse", created some interest in the U.K., partly because of a memorable music video. Sensing the possibility of international success, the band decided to change their name in early 1981 to avoid confusion with Scottish group The Flowers. As Icehouse, they spent most of 1981 touring the UK, Canada and US, where "We Can Get Together" hit #62. A single release, "Love In Motion", recorded by Davies alone but the first to be credited to the band's new name, duly hit the Australian Top 10 in November 1981.
In January 1982, the band's original line up split, resulting in Davies recording Icehouse's much-anticipated second album, 'Primitive Man', on his own, with assistance from Keith Forsey, who later worked with Simple Minds. Released in August 1982, Primitive Man was another huge Australian hit and became Icehouse's international breakthrough. The hit single "Hey Little Girl" reached the UK Top 20 and has remained their most regularly played song. Another strong track from this album was "Great Southern Land", which made the Australian Top 5 and was later featured in the late 1980s film 'Young Einstein'.
In 1985, Davies' musical standing was further enhanced when he was commissioned to compose and record the score for the acclaimed Sydney Dance Company production of Graeme Murphy's dance work 'Boxes'. Icehouse's third album, 'Sidewalk', was far more sombre and reflective, featuring the tracks "I Don't Believe Anymore" and "Someone Like You". After this album the band made further inroads into the U.S. market with their 1986 release 'Measure for Measure', which featured none other than Brian Eno as a listed band member.
Icehouse's next work, 'Man of Colours', was their best-selling album. It contained the hit singles "Crazy" and "Electric Blue" (a song co-written by John Oates from the band Hall and Oates). Both singles reached the US Top 20, with "Electric Blue" hitting the #7 slot. With this album, the band reached an international zenith, never surpassing this level of popularity and exposure again.
In 1995, Davies was again involved with the Sydney Dance Company's production of Berlin. The musical score is a collection of cover versions of songs by David Bowie, Brian Eno, Simple Minds, The Psychedelic Furs, Frank Sinatra, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, XTC, Talking Heads, The Velvet Underground, PiL, The Cure and Killing Joke, which saw him collaborating with pianist Max Lambert in the development of the music.
As well as recording the score to the ballet, Davies performed these songs live with Icehouse at each show. He was an intrinsic part of the ballet, in a role similar to the one in Boxes. Iva was extremely successful in creating a translation from the dancers to the audience. Berlin was an instant success and ran for two seasons. Both shows were the most commercially successful that The Sydney Dance Company have had to date.
On 16 August 2006, Icehouse were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame along side acts such as Midnight Oil, Divinyls and Rose Tattoo. Also in 2006, Icehouse featured prominently on the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown with 14 songs selected including:
*"Man Of Colours"
*"Electric Blue"
*"We Can Get Together"
*"Don't Believe Any More"
*"Great Southern Land" (which came in at number 12)
Skin
Icehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Appears to be a certain stranger to me
He slips a film of glow through glow on his hand
And paints my features where his face ought to be
Young flesh, young frame
Slow pulse, no pain
Inside my fit on skin
Sometimes I wonder just where to begin
Inside my fit on skin
I make a novel of everything
It's like fiction
Inside my fit on skin
Another side of my twin
The face he fits is unmistakably mine
Without a trace he leaves the scene of the crime
The story always reads exactly the same
I need my live protection all the time
The song "Skin" by Icehouse is a haunting and introspective reflection on identity, self-discovery, and the fine line between reality and illusion. The lyrics speak to a sense of disconnect from oneself, as the masquerader in the mirror is an unfamiliar stranger who paints the singer's features where his own face should be. The paradoxical image of the "film of glow" slipping through the glow on his hand suggests a kind of spiritual or metaphysical possession, as if the stranger in the mirror has a power over the singer's physical form.
The ambiguity of the pronouns ("his face," "my twin") and the recurring theme of duality ("another side," "young flesh, young frame") add to the sense of disorientation and instability. The singer is trapped inside his own "fit on skin," unable to differentiate between reality and the "novel" of his own perceptions. The longing for action and live protection speaks to a desire for self-actualization and a sense of control over one's own destiny.
Overall, "Skin" is a powerful meditation on the fluidity of identity and the constant struggle to understand oneself in a world that is constantly changing and uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
The masquerader in the mirror
Unknown reflection in the looking glass
Appears to be a certain stranger to me
Seems unfamiliar, like an unknown entity
He slips a film of glow through glow on his hand
Adding a layer of brightness to the existing facade
And paints my features where his face ought to be
Projects a fake image of me
Young flesh, young frame
Youthful body
Slow pulse, no pain
No heart rate, no feeling
Inside my fit on skin
The sensation felt within my own skin
Sometimes I wonder just where to begin
Pondering where to start, what to do
I need action
Craving movement and excitement
It's like fiction
Seems unreal, like a made-up story
I make a novel of everything
Creating elaborate stories from mundane events
Another side of my twin
An alternative version of myself
The face he fits is unmistakably mine
The imitation is identical to my appearance
Without a trace he leaves the scene of the crime
Departs unnoticed without a trace
The story always reads exactly the same
The narrative is unchanged and repetitive
I need my live protection all the time
Continuous protection from outside forces is necessary
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROD DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jamie foyers
Best thing about the early 80's and all these bands starting out was that it had to be that 2:30 to 3minute song...everything in their...guitars, synths and lyrics. Shame that songs got longer and the meanings became more diluted over time really. I still think that "quick" and to the point pop songs are the better ones. Bit like shooting stars...they burn briefly but you never forget them!.
Tara Coghill
Thanks so much for uploading this!!!!! :)
Patrick
Would love to know if there is complete video of this show. Hard to find 1981-82 live footage.
Jamesh Debono
Is that Gary Numan.....????
Adam Bright
+Jamesh Debono No, Its Iva Davies
numbynumb
ha! You know what this song's about.
Aus80sRockRadio
@Adam Bright Way better than Gary Numan.
Bev ODonnell
@numbynumb What do you think itβs about?
numbynumb
@Bev ODonnell It's about Experiment IV