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ICE Band - UK

We know there are great bands, and fine new artists - some original and some drawing from a source of many years of other styles and artists that lead to a conglomeration of great new styles. Actually, a good portion of this output is a mish-mash, a lot of cut up sounds and styles borrowed from the flavor of this month.

This is not what you get with ICE Band. When you hear them, you will get a boost like you never expected.

The single "Look Into My Eyes" offers the experience of nice lyrics, and a very personable approach in the recording. Do you think that you are hearing tracks on a tape, or do you feel that the band could be just a few feet over performing the song?

I would say that you get a feeling of the latter - a closeness in the band singing to YOU. You are the audience and the song is about someone you probably know. It's close to your heart.

Probably the best part of the song is the end - which is what I would call anthemic in nature - it uplifts you and has the sixties style of orchestral recordings put in with a rock music approach that works, it makes the song end with a bang, and I for one wish the song had gone on just a little longer. It's like a desire to hit repeat on the CD player.

The nice surprise of the November 2009 release is the B-side - which is "We Might Get By".

I'm actually from over on the other side of the pond, but I don't think I'm alone in finding the UK always have it best. The best authors, some classic eras in film, and the best songwriters!

One aside to this argument could be what is the New York sound - I probably don't have to name drop, but there was a period a few decades ago where some bands and even artists originally from England characterized a certain style of song, a certain vocal, and, here's the word again: an anthemic quality to the performance.

ICE Band have numerous live tracks with original songs (search online, and you can hear a few). However, I would say the sound captured in the studio is a very nice treat indeed.

They have channeled, all at once, their own sound, older bands, and the New York sound I mentioned that proves we have not forgotten some of the songwriters from just one generation past. This track would be perfect ending to an album.

It's uplifting and fun and I can't say that I like it more than it's counterpart on the A-side, but it makes me want to go back to the beginning of the disc. Both songs give me hope and I think we’ll see new and good songs again from this band in the near future.

Stephen Blotner
East Texas

info:
ICE Band - Official Website.

The ICE Band.

Buskers Ball (ICE Band; The Soundhouse, Bolton).