Track: Cherry Cake
Band: Ice Cream Headache
Genre/s: Alternative Rock/ Electronica/ Hip-Hop/Jazz/Soul/Blues
My track of the day is by Ice Cream Headache (Not the UK one) who hail from San Diego, California. I found this band completely by accident by tagging in the wrong band as I was putting a post together. I’m glad I did, as Ice Cream Headache are a very unique band. Their blend of Funk, Jazz, lounge music, Hip-Hop beats and Alternative Rock is a winning combination. Check out my review below...
Cherry Cake : This tune starts with fuzzy, reverb drenched surf-guitar. It’s got a relaxed, jazzy but slight discordant feel. It’s a seeming trope of this band; to lull the listener into a sense of the familiar, then go off in an unexpected direction. The drums have a laid-back, Hip-Hop style attack, with lazy lounge music delivered bass. There’s little flavours of US Alternative Rock that ping in and out, intentionally or otherwise. A smidge of Beck here, a pinch of Pavement there. Then the vocals, a harmonised male and female voice, weave softly through the mix, like a psychedelic incarnation of 70s heart throbs (the)Alessi Brothers. The melody is smart, evolving constantly and not celebrating itself at all. The bass picks up into a cool Disco groove, it’s an effective little hook, with heaps of style. The guitar almost cracks in slightly off the beat, putting me in the mind of the technique that Andy Gill from UK Post-Punk band, Gang of Four used. By employing this guitar approach, the tune can phase in and out of reality. It becomes more than just a pop tune, it becomes layered and has an otherworldly ambience as a result. The tempo and direction of the tune is unhurried and relaxed, there’s lots of space for the individual musicians and of course, the vocalists to shine. Similar to how a Jazz band relate to one another, so everyone in the band, ‘gets their moment.’ There’s an instrumental break, showcasing the musical talents of the band. The bass steps up the funk slaps and pops as the drums roll in some impressive fills. There’s a dreamy, drifty lead guitar, like a warmer and happier version of Dean Wareham’s guitar solos from Galaxie 500. There’s a pause, before guitar solo part two fuzzily fires in. It’s somewhere at the point where Ween meets Funkadelic, whilst being spied on by (The) Fun Lovin’ Criminals. The sound and the character of the guitar playing, again underlies the notion of ‘Cherry Cake’ being a pop tune that phases in and out of reality. The vocals briefly float back, before a change in style as there’s a funk/disco-esque mini-breakdown as guitar and vocals stab in and out, guiding ‘Cherry Cake’ to it’s sweet end.
This tune, like actual Cherry Cake is addictive. Click on the link of your preferred listening platform below, for a listen⭐️
Listen to ‘Cherry Cake ’ by Ice Cream Headache:
Bandcamp: https://icecreamheadache.bandcamp.com/track/cherry-cake
Itunes: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/cherry-cake-single/1509339976
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0G2FGHCikKhz5ds6Oka5MX?si=3hVr4j7eT6CHvIRwneTkJA
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