Named after the 1960 short story "The Day The Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, The Icicle Works joined Liverpool's early 1980s 'neo-psychedelia' wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom.
The band was founded in Liverpool by 18-year-old singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and frontman Ian McNabb. In 1980, McNabb joined up with drummer Chris Sharrock (who had been playing with McNabb on and off since he was nine) and bassist Chris Layhe (who had been recruited though a classified ad), and they began playing as The Icicle Works. By the end of 1981, the trio had recorded a six-song independently released cassette, and in 1982 they released the independent single "Nirvana". The following year, The Icicle Works were signed to the Beggars Banquet label, who issued the single Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) on their subsidiary label Situation Two.
Later that year, The Icicle Works' would release their biggest UK hit, 1983's Love Is a Wonderful Colour. Their debut eponymous album (1984) would follow shortly thereafter, reaching number 24 on the UK charts, and also hitting the U.S. top 40. Also appearing on the U.S. top 40 singles charts at around the same time (and hitting the Canadian top twenty) was Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly), a retitled and very slightly remixed version of The Icicle Works' Situation Two release of 1983.
However, commercial success for The Icicle Works after this point was minimal. Their second album, The Small Price of a Bicycle (1985) spun off no hit singles, and wasn't even released outside the UK. Later albums If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song (1987), and Blind (1988) were both issued in the UK and North America, and even spun off minor hits. Nevertheless, no post-1984 Icicle Works single would chart higher than 52 in the UK, and after "Whisper To A Scream", the band never again made the US Hot 100.
Some have attributed this unfortunate commercial decline to The Icicle Works' change in sound over the years, from an initial 'new wave' feel to a more straight-ahead rock sound inspired by Neil Young, The Doors, and the Ramones, amongst others. But whatever the cause, despite critical acclaim the band was unable to consistently record hit singles. As well, by the late 1980s, tensions within the group were increasing allegedly due to McNabb's controlling ways. By 1988, in addition to writing virtually all of The Icicle Works' material, as well as singing and playing guitar, McNabb was also producing the group's records.
Accordingly, shortly after Blind was issued, drummer Chris Sharrock departed to The La's. Sharrock would later be a member of The Lightning Seeds and World Party, and would also drum for Robbie Williams, Del Amitri and Eurythmics. Around this same time, Layhe also departed, and Beggars Banquet dropped the group from their roster.
Undaunted, McNabb soldiered on under The Icicle Works banner for a while. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, briefly occupied the drumstool, while various keyboardists, bassists, and guitarists passed through before the band released Permanent Damage (1990), recorded for Epic/Sony. By that time, the band's lineup was McNabb, bassist Roy Corkill, former 10cc and Jethro Tull drummer Paul Burgess, keyboardist Dave Baldwin, and backing vocalist Mark Revell.
This 'second-generation' version of The Icicle Works quietly broke up after Permanent Damage failed to chart, and Epic dropped the band. Ian McNabb's solo career officially began in 1991 with the release of the single Great Dreams of Heaven; for further details on McNabb's solo career, please see the entry for Ian McNabb.
In 1992, a compilation called The Best of The Icicle Works was released, containing the best of their work from the Beggars Banquet years. Two years later, a live recording of a 1987 concert was issued.
On December 31, 2005, after having been a solo act for 15 years, McNabb announced he was reviving "The Icicle Works" name in 2006 for a series of concerts and an album. However, this version of the band would contain no original members other than McNabb.
Perambulator
The Icicle Works Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Estimated I'll slip and slide
Fiercer wheels take a slower train
Lastly for the wax and wane
Wax and wane, wax and wane
Savor every moment passed
Come alive at your discretion
We'll find you somebody
You can rise up high above me
Why is it you always want one thing you can't have
These lyrics from The Icicle Works's song Perambulator seem to touch upon themes of longing, desire, and the inevitable ups and downs of life. The reference to Karma hints at the idea of cause and effect, suggesting that our actions can lead to repercussions that may bruise our pride. The line "estimated I'll slip and slide" suggests that perhaps the singer is not entirely in control of their fate and may encounter obstacles along the way.
The lyric "fiercer wheels take a slower train" seems to imply that sometimes, to make progress, we have to take the longer route or put in more effort than we initially thought. The wax and wane motif that repeats throughout the song also fits into this theme, as it represents the natural cycles of life and suggests that we may experience periods of growth and decline before ultimately finding equilibrium.
The final lines "We'll find you somebody / You can rise up high above me / Why is it you always want one thing you can't have" touch upon the deeply human desire for connection and the tendency to want what we can't have. The suggestion that the other person can "rise up high" hints at the idea of growth and self-improvement, even if it means leaving the other person behind. Overall, these lyrics seem to be about navigating the ups and downs of life, finding meaning and purpose in each moment, and learning to let go of the things that may be holding us back.
Line by Line Meaning
Karma and I'll bruise my pride
If I let karma take its course, it might hurt my ego.
Estimated I'll slip and slide
I predict that I might struggle and stumble along the way.
Fiercer wheels take a slower train
Sometimes those with more forceful personalities have to slow down and be patient.
Lastly for the wax and wane
Finally, everything goes through cycles of growth and decline.
Wax and wane, wax and wane
Everything has its ups and downs, its highs and lows.
Savor every moment passed
Take the time to appreciate every experience, even in retrospect.
Come alive at your discretion
Choosing when to let yourself fully engage with life is up to you.
Lay down in the winter for the fires that come in June
Sometimes you have to prepare in the present for the opportunities that will come later.
We'll find you somebody
There is someone out there for you, even if it takes time and effort to find them.
You can rise up high above me
You have the potential to surpass me, to achieve more than I have.
Why is it you always want one thing you can't have
Why is it that human desire often fixates on what is beyond reach?
Contributed by Claire R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The Velo In The Vale
A band that fell through the cracks of the 80's ... massively underrated and sadly undiscovered by many ... I was in from the start and still have all my vinyls. Sharrock was an incredible drummer ... his work on Cauldron still remains epic!
Pleasure Victim
The Velo In The Vale All so true and well said. Still have all mine as well.
John Phillipson
Such a fabulous Band .. brilliant Songs on both their Debut Album and ' The Small Price of a Bicycle ' ~ as Good as ANY of the other Liverpool Bands at the time .. Fab
staticballs2point0
I was in a punk band in the early - mid 80s and tried to get this song in our revolving cover of the night, but it never happend, bad ass tune this is...
Matt Stevens
Brilliant album... Best song on it... Only bettered by 'Cauldron Of Love' in my opinion!!! Thank you for enabling me to here this again!!!
M Majudaem
what a fantastic group one of many early 80,s groups the alarm , mission, spear of destiny etc that you don't hear on the radio at all but were awesome...
Roger Durrant
Also check out the wonderful cover version of Neil Young's "Mr Soul" and "A Pocketful Of Nothing" on the B side of the All The Daughters Of Her Father's House 12"
Roger Durrant
Great stuff. Whatever happened to harmony and melody? Love "Scarecrow" too. Caviare to most of today's fish paste.
Dave Wilson
Don't fear the Icicle Works.
InParticularNobody
When the feeling's right I'm gonna run all night, I'm gonna run to them.