Iconic Australian eighties rock band, Icehouse, have reissued remastered versions of their two most popular albums in the lead-up to their national Primitive Colours tour pulling from the two records.
Namely, their second album, Primitive Man, which celebrates its 30th Anniversary; and Man of Colours – their fifth – celebrating its 25 years of age.
Along with the original tracks on the Man of Colours album comes a DVD with two live sets: a 13-song set from the Ritz and an epic 29-track Melbourne concert playing to a screaming hometown crowd.
The 1987 album of course still features the beloved hit, “Electric Blue”, which showcases front man Iva Davies’ amazing vocal talents.
The extended mix of “Electric Blue” is an added treat for fans, featuring extra instrumental music, and a slightly modernised electro sound to the classic favourite. The album also features the digitally remastered tracks, “Man of Colours”, “My Obsession”, and “Girl in the Moon”.
Meanwhile 1982’s Primitive Man is a record that most true fans of Australian rock music will already own.
Displaying some of Icehouse’s finer, more well-known work, including one of the most quintessentially Australiana songs, “Great Southern Land”; a song that is so closely associated with our nation’s culture, that it is played at nearly every Australia Day celebration.
The massive hit; “Hey Little Girl” and “Street Café”, are two of the more eighties sounding synthesised songs, taking fans on a trip back to the band’s prime.
The re-release also comes packaged with a DVD of interviews and video clips, the choice cut being a chat between Iva Davies and Molly Meldrum from the days of Countdown, and a live concert filmed in Germany.
The re-release of these two albums is a great look back at the evolution of the Icehouse sound from Aussie pub rock style music, to a more new-wave, synthesised pop style that is more evident on their later album, Man of Colours.
These digitally remastered versions are an excellent way to introduce the next generation to some quality Australian music from the eighties that is still just as relevant today as when it was written.
– Shannon Wood
