The Icicle Works (Whisper To A Scream...)

The Icicle Works were one of the better bands incorrectly lumped into the mid-80's New Wave category. While the self-titled debut album from the Liverpool band certainly had pop / wave overtones, the band's harder rock sound dominated follow-up albums (and in many cases, scared off those who enjoyed the lighter side of the band's debut). Frontman Ian McNabb formed the band with drummer Chris Sharrock (who later joined The La's & The Lightning Seeds) and bassist Chris Layhe in 1980 (with a sound simillar to Echo & The Bunnymen and Teardrop Explodes) deriving their name from a science fiction short-story by author Frederick Pohl. Their first indie single, Nirvana, released in 1982 failed to chart and the initial release of Whisper To A Scream only reached #90 on the UK Singles Chart. The band's biggest hit in the UK, Love Is A Wonderful Colour, reached #15 in 1983.

After signing with Beggars Banquet, Whisper To A Scream was re-released reaching #53 in the UK and #37 on the US Top 100 (sending the debut album to #24 in the UK and #40 in the US in March 0f 1984). The band did garner more chart success in the UK in the years to follow, but never regained the following of their debut. I prefer the sound of the first few albums. Ian McNabb went on to record as a solo artist, and reformed The Icicle Works (with newer members) for a 2006 tour.

Whisper To A Scream (which was covered by Soho for the film Scream) has become a standard on radio flashback programs and new wave compilations around the world. If you enjoy the two songs below, grab the self titled debut (and if you can find it, the scarce Japanese CD pressing of Seven Singles Deep). Songs courtesy of Sneakmove and Little Hits.

Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly)
Love Is A Wonderful Colour "Long Version"