Icicle – Under the Ice LP Review and Q and A


This debut LP from Icicle, released on Shogun Audio, could well be one of the most important drum n bass albums of theyear, with possibly only Breaks latest LP to contend with. Under the Ice shows versatility and promise for yet more drum n bass production of this standard in the future, upping the game for the producers of years to come. Don’t get me wrong; he delves into other genres;

Breathing Again has a strong moving female vocal which leads into a deep crunchy dubstep onslaught, backed with amazing contrasting atmospheric synths, a big tune!; 1, 2, Go has a 2 step minimal vibe at around 130bpm with an almost 80’s style synth leading the melody; Also Icicle ventures even further away from drum n bass for the final, and hidden track of the album, (as to why its hidden I haven’t got a clue). It has no name because it’s hidden, which adds to stupid idea of it being hidden. But it’s a mediocre deep house tune…

… which is why I previously mentioned Under the Ice to be potentially one of the most important drum n bass albums of the year;
The opening track “Step Forward” is a great intro to an album of such high calibre of production. It eases the listener gently into what is yet to come. A soothing male vocal helps the percussion and breaks rise, creating atmospheric timbres many producers these days in dnb are too afraid, or are simply unable to create. The following track Dreadnaught, which

features a catchy verse and hook courtesy of SPMC, takes the sound raw and heavy. It contains rumbling bass hits and crisp breaks that never stop and sound like theyr’e capable of destroying raves to pieces, however the vocal could get a bit annoying after more than several listens. Personally I believe the better vocal track on the album is Bitter Taste featuring Manchester DnB/Hip-hop don MC DRS.

Top of the Page is a stand out tune. A full on hard-hitting deep rave vibe with hypnotic percussion, which drops into filthy sub bass and chopped breaks.

Nausea is the deep roller of the LP. It creeps in without any obvious build up and contains that very signature Icicle sound that’s been present in his production from the start of his career, never failing to pay attention to detail.
Definite originality awards go to Arrows, which features a mandolin led build up with panpipes that drops into a mash up of breaks that sound incredibly like an array of arrows flying towards you, narrowly missing your ears!

The euphoric “I Feel U” keeps up with the high quality production of the whole LP whilst adding another element to it, one of techy sounds and more experimental beats and build ups, whilst the final (listed) track on the LP, Europa, provides a fitting outro to the milestone in drum n bass production that is Under the Ice.

Its downtempo half time dnb breaks, with a range of eclectic minor scale synth sounds make this not only sound a bit like the ending credits for a French art film, but also that Thom Yorke could have actually produced it for Kid A a few years back.

I highly fucking doubt he could have produced the rest….
(rating out of ten:eight and a half)

Example : Icicle where are you from and how did you get into electronic music?

 

Icicle : Im from Eindhoven in The Netherlands. From a young age I was playing piano and keyboard and playing the drums. I guess I got into electronic music gradually, from house music on MTW when I was really young, to Techno and Drum and Bass when I was 15 and started blagging my way into clubs.
 

Example: Which came first, producing or djing??

 Icicle : Probably producing. Although at the time I was just messing around really, I Think I bought my first decks when I was around 14 so It kinda went parallel.

Example: What was the first and last piece of music you bought?

Icicle : The first piece I couldn't remember but I'm sure it was crap. The last piece, Marcel Dettmann's latest 12", I think?

Example: You've had success producing dubstep and drum and bass which would you say you prefer??

Icicle: Both! It really is the same music anyway apart from the Tempo. Drum and Bass is special because I grew up with it, but Dubstep is great because its newer and there is more room to experiment?

Example: Your album is out now on Shogun Audio this month.? How did you go about putting it together and was it difficult trying to make tunes for an LP compared to 12"s ?

Icicle: I started about 2 years ago, from a concept phase. I was thinking about how it should be different from what I had done already and how I wanted to still keep it sounding like it was an icicle album. I decided i wanted it to be a real album in the sense that it needed a start a middle and an end. It shouldn't just be a bunch of DJ music but also work on an iPod. It has been really difficult but that because I made it as hard for myself as i possibly could. I decided as long as I wasn't 100% happy, I'd keep working on it.

Example: do you have a favourite track on the album?
 

Icicle : I don't think I have. There are a few I like more than others now, but they are all quite different and i like them for different reasons. I guess redemption is pretty special in the sense that I got to work with Robert Owens.

Example: What do you listen to outside of drum and bass??
 

Icicle: Anything thats good. Which for me turns out to be a lot of techno these days. Theres nothing like a bit of decent jazz on the iPod either!

 

Example: Give us an interesting fact about yourself?

 Icicle: I'll be the first DnB Dj to play on Mars.

Example: What do you think you would be doing if you weren't making music??

Icicle: The only other thing that seems likely to me is leading an oppressed people to freedom, kinda like a messiah.

Example: If you could collaborate with anyone alive or dead who would you choose??

Icicle: Michael Jackson for the cash and just to bring him back from the dead, Jeff Mills because i wish i made 'the bells'.

Example: What tunes are never out of your box at the moment??
 

Icicle : Spinline - Tokyo has been in every set since I had it. Also 'Four Days' by BC has made a return to the record bag.

Example: Do you have a favourite place to play? ?

Icicle : I love travelling so anywhere far away from home. But then gigs in London always have such a unique vibe. So really, I wouldn't know.