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)
Wind And Sail
Icehouse Lyrics
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Black lace and satin wrapped, wrapped up against her face
She turns her frozen steps that break the frost and cold
Beyond the misty bay, still sleeping to the east
"many miles", she hears the seabirds call
Her captain's ship, she waits for Wind and Sail
The storm is silent now, as silent as the dawn
Above the rocks and cliffs she watches all the while
She waits for distant sails that never will return
"many miles", she hears the seabirds call
Her captain's ship, she waits for Wind and Sail
Below the breaking point the tide will ebb and fall
The storm is silent now, as silent as the dawn
"many miles", she hears the seabirds call
Her captain's ship, she waits for Wind and Sail
Icehouse's song Wind and Sail tells the story of a woman who stands alone, waiting for a ship that never returns. As the early light is catching the folds of her black lace and satin that are wrapped up against her face, she takes frozen steps that break the frost and cold. Beyond the misty bay that is still sleeping to the east, she waits for her captain's ship with Wind and Sail. The seabirds call many miles away, as she watches the tide ebb and fall below the breaking point. Although the storm is now silent as the dawn, she keeps a close eye on the rocks and cliffs, hoping for distant sails that never will return.
This song tells a poetic story of a woman who is left alone to wait for a ship that never returns. The metaphorical use of the wind and sail represents hope for the woman who anticipates the arrival of the ship. The song's lyrics and melody can make one feel the melancholy of the story it tells. The use of words, such as frost, cold, and misty, paint a picture of the harsh conditions in which the woman waits. The song's sense of forlorn hope becomes more apparent as the woman remains endlessly waiting for her love.
Line by Line Meaning
Now as the early light is catching the folds
As the sun rises, its light illuminates the intricate details of her clothing
Black lace and satin wrapped, wrapped up against her face
Her face is covered in black lace and satin, protecting her from the cold winds
She turns her frozen steps that break the frost and cold
She walks on, shattering the icy ground beneath her feet, pushing through the frost and coldness
Beyond the misty bay, still sleeping to the east
In the distance lies a misty bay, dormant and tranquil in the early morning, towards the East
"many miles", she hears the seabirds call
The call of the seabirds echoes in the distance, reminding her of the vast distance between her and her destination
Her captain's ship, she waits for Wind and Sail
She waits eagerly for her captain's ship to arrive, so they can set sail using the power of the wind
Below the breaking point the tide will ebb and fall
Below the surface, the tides will rise and fall as the waves crash against the shore
The storm is silent now, as silent as the dawn
The storm has ended, and the only sound that can be heard is the peaceful stillness of dawn
Above the rocks and cliffs she watches all the while
She stands on the rocks and cliffs, keeping watch for her captain's ship to appear on the horizon
She waits for distant sails that never will return
Despite waiting for her captain's ship, she also mourns for the distant sails that have been lost at sea and will never return
"many miles", she hears the seabirds call
Once again, the call of the seabirds echoes, a constant reminder of the distance she must overcome to reach her destination
Her captain's ship, she waits for Wind and Sail
Still waiting, she hopes for the arrival of her captain's ship, so they can begin their journey using the power of the wind
Below the breaking point the tide will ebb and fall
She remains aware of the rising and falling of the tides that occur beneath the surface
The storm is silent now, as silent as the dawn
Despite the silence, she remains vigilant, watching and waiting for her captain's ship to appear
"many miles", she hears the seabirds call
The repeated call of the seabirds echoes in her ears, a constant reminder of the distance she must travel to reach her destination
Her captain's ship, she waits for Wind and Sail
With unwavering perseverance, she continues to wait for the arrival of her captain's ship, eagerly anticipating the upcoming journey
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IVOR ARTHUR DAVIES, ROBERT GRANT KRETSCHMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind