Icewater Scandal started out under the moniker AM Radio at the turn of the brave 21st century in the most unlikely of places. Some misguided barrista had convinced the powers that be to try to turn the Starbucks on the edge of the East Village into a music venue. Sean, DW and Travis, who were all students at the School Of Visual Arts at the time and had been holed up in an abandoned studio space experimenting with guitars played at very high volumes, got roped into performing at one of the ill fated events. In the audience was Andrea Hansen, who took to the sounds, which were a bit too much for the cafè-latte crowd. Andrea had been cutting her teeth playing to a completely different yet equally confused audience; playing her strange rock-oriented material around Staten Island hardcore scene (the closest music venues she could get to with her bus pass). From there DW switched to drums, they all moved into a tiny railroad apartment on the very tip of Williamsburg. Maturing at breakneck speed, the band cut a six song EP/Demo at Funhouse NYC with ex-Honeymoon Killer Jerry Teel (who went on to produce Yeah Yeah Yeah’s first EP and a slew of other great records from the period). Shortly thereafter Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth volunteered to produce the bands first record at SY’s Echo Canyon Studio. These sessions are now available on Icewater Scandal’s debut album No Handle. This album further hones their musical instincts taking 60’s experimental music a la the Dream Syndicate et al, and merging that with the elan of 80’s indie rock. No Handle is at times muscular and other times cerebral, without losing any flair. Six songs in fifty minutes (or seven in sixty five if you¹ve get the double LP); a sprawling record which uses those ideals of rock that have been for the large part ignored: psychedelic exploration, rhythmic dynamics, careening vocals, crafted noise, epic long format composition, and, lets face it, a group of people that are just not willing to compromise. It is a confidence that is bolstered by the music. No Handle is sure to carry you along with it.
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2 months ago
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