Icehouse - Measure For Measure (1986) (vinyl Lp) - €7,00

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Measure for Measure is the fourth studio album by the Australian rock band Icehouse, released in April 1986 in Australia by Regular Records and in the United States by Chrysalis Records.

Lead vocalist Iva Davies said the album was the first time he had worked with producers he could "get on with" and also the first time they had a surplus of songs to choose from. 

"We've actually got more songs than we'll ever be able to use. 

Based on the principles of balance, Measure for Measure is half-produced by David Lord, half by Rhett Davies. 

American and European editions benefit from a better track list, which opens with the Davies-produced "No Promises." 

A little too close to Bowie and Metheny's "This Is Not America," perhaps, but very nice all the same. "Cross the Border" resembles and continues the close relationship with Simple Minds, and features a strong Brian Eno back vocal motif. 

Another of the RD-produced pieces, "The Flame," although about the struggles in South Africa, opens with a watery, orient-like synth treatment before a strong beat, courtesy of Steve Jansen, and a Talk Talk-sounding synth take charge. 

Newer realms are visited by Spanish guitar on "Angel Street," but the Bowie references can't be shaken, with much of the later part relying on squally glam rock ("Regular Boys" and the career-reviving "Baby You're So Strange"). 

The opening "Paradise" gradually moves from reasonable to captivating, while the snappy "Mr Big" is a winner with its catchy, grabbing chorus. "Angel Street" is typical Icehouse - it sounds like umpteen others of theirs, before and since, but still manages to have a certain haunting quality to it.

The second half is more hard rocking than the first, with a stronger emphasis on guitars, but it does contain maybe the band's best song of all, the wonderful "Cross The Border" - the way it finishes with the chant combined with the chorus is especially memorable.

The screeching "Lucky Me" is a bit of a misfire, but the concluding "Baby, You're So Strange" is rather amusingly affecting in its own way, and the overall result of Measure For Measure is one of Icehouse's best efforts, and probably the closest they came to become the innovative act that they never really quite reached.

Side A

A1.  No Promises - 4:39

A2.  Cross The Border - 4:22

A3.  Spanish Gold  (Iva Davies) - 4:15

A4.  Paradise  (Iva Davies) - 4:44

A5.  The Flame  (Iva Davies) - 4:45

Side B

B1.  Regular Boys - 3:31

B2.  Mr. Big - 3:32

B3.  Angel Street - 4:44

B4.  Lucky Me - 4:37

B5.  Baby, You’re So Strange - 3:58

All tracks are written by Iva Davies and Robert Kretschmer, except where noted.

Icehouse

• Iva Davies – vocals, guitar, keyboards (Fairlight CMI), drum programming, bass guitar
• Simon Lloyd – reeds, brass, trumpet, keyboard programming, Fairlight CMI
• Robert Kretschmer – guitar
• Guy Pratt – bass guitar, fretless bass guitar
• Andy Qunta – keyboards, backing vocals
• Steve Jansen – drums, percussion (on "No Promises", "Cross the Border" and "The Flame")
• Masaki Tanazawa – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Brian Eno – backing vocals, piano, keyboards
• Stuart Gordon – strings
• Maurice Green – backing vocals
• Gasper Lawal – percussion
• David Lord – keyboards, string arrangement, percussion
• Shena Power – female voices
• Glen Tommey – percussion

Recording

• Engineer – Rhett Davies, David Lord, Andy Lyden, Iva Davies, Warne Livesey
  • Assistant – George Shilling, Matt Howe
• Mastering – Paul Ibbotson
• Mixing – David Hemmings, Warne Livesey, Glen Tommey
  • Assistant – Raine Shine
• Producer – Rhett Davies , David Lord

Artwork

• Brett Cabot – Cover Photography
• David McKenzie – Artwork

Notes

Release: 1986

Format:  LP, Vinyl

Genre:  Synth-pop

Label:  Chrysalis

Catalog#  BFV 41527

Vinyl:  Goed (VG)

Hoes:  Lichte gebruikerssporen (G)

Prijs: €7,00