The Icecream Hands, along with other sadly missed Australian legends such as The Dead Salesmen
The Icecream Hands, along with other sadly missed Australian legends such as The Dead Salesmen, shimmered with a poetic and evocative lyricism. These thought-provoking storytellers, capable of sharp witticism, always seemed to be armed with a knowing grin, a bucket-load of melody and the types of songs that lock happily in the memory banks for all eternity.
With the band vanishing into the mist, many fans of erudite indie powerpop have been left yearning for the days when Chuck and Co were enlivening the airwaves, strutting the stage and popping up good-humouredly on commercial TV. It comes as a great relief then to have the band’s 2007 live recording of an acoustic set performed at Manchester Lane finally in our hands and wedged in the sound system.
This ten-track CD has a warmth and intimacy that makes you wish you had been present to witness the gig live and loud. As you would expect from the talent amassed on stage the playing is intuitive and impeccable, the between-song banter quirky, intelligent and fun and the delightful vocal harmonies a soothing sonic delight.
Highlights include the driving piano that propels The Obvious Boy onwards and upwards, the addictive guitar riff and punchy melodic playfulness of Spirit Level Windowsill, the tenderness that permeates My Mother Was A Dancer and the infectious and cheeky melody of the memorably named Nipple.
Listening to this celebration of the band’s fine music acted as the ideal entree for their eagerly anticipated one-off gig at the Northcote Social Club recently when Icecream Hands performed their sterling album Sweeter Than The Radio in its entirety. A testament to an Australian treasure.
