THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 The Northern Echo 25 At Leisure Ian McNabb makes it a double! By Aja Dodd include Jason Faulkner the same since the beginning [of (Jellyfish), Nick Kilroe (Echo this album] was that I wanted it to CICLE WORKS frontman and the Bunnymen) and session have 20 songs,” he says. Ian McNabb has spent the musician Kate O’Brien among Although many musicians have pandemic working on his others. The whole album was spoken about the challenges they’ve latest album, Utopian, which recorded remotely in 2020, with faced when recording an album I has just been released on CD, Ciaron Bell producing. remotely, Ian disagrees, saying vinyl and download. In early spring 2020 Ian was it’s usually more of a challenge to Utopian is the third in a trilogy offered Paul Weller’s Black Barn get everyone together in person. of albums. Following Star Smile Recording Studio in Surrey and Comparing making music now Strong (2017) and Our Future was all set to work when the to when his career started in the in Space (2019), Ian wanted the pandemic hit. With no chance of early 1980s, he says: “The best 20-song album to be self-indulgent. getting into any studio, Ian bit the thing about the internet is that This may be his 20th studio album bullet and installed a small set up anyone can make music – and the – including the five with The Icicle in his house where he could record. worst thing about the internet is Works – but it’s Ian’s first double “I started recording some vocals, that anyone can make music.” album. guitar and keyboard then sent As for other projects, Ian has Originally set for release in late it over to my producer on the re-imagined and re-recorded the 2020, Ian said the album ended up Wirral,” says Ian. seven songs on Ascending, The being better than it would have if “We then went to Parr Street Icicle Works’ first demo cassette, they’d rushed to meet the deadline. Studios in Liverpool last July to for the 40th anniversary of their Utopian starts off quite mellow. record the drum tracks.” release in 1981. “I didn’t want to clobber people When it comes to writing songs “I listened to the songs and over the head in the first few Ian says: “You have to wait until thought they were pretty good, minutes,” says Liverpool’s there’s a tear in the space-time but they were never recorded answer to Neil Young, before continuum...or the zone...or properly,” Ian says. adding: “stylistically, I’m all whatever you want to call it. The Copies of the new version of over the place.” creativity lets you know when it’s Ascending will be limited to 1,000 This is more evident than ever on ready. You don’t let it know when CDs and 250 vinyl, all of which will Utopian when, after being lulled you’re ready. ” be signed. Ian aims for copies to be into a false sense of tranquillity A case in point was when Ian posted to fans in early autumn. with Harry Dean Stanton and attended a song-writing workshop The last time fans in the Mesmerised, listeners are hit in London a few years ago, but North-East got to see Ian perform with a big change of tone in decided that trying to write a was at a solo show at The Forum Deserter and Jonesin’. ballad for Susan Boyle’s new Music Centre, in Darlington, in All of the songs were written in album at 2.30pm on a Wednesday April 2019. 2020 apart from Boy, written in wasn’t really working for him. He plans to be back next year, 2018, and Rollin’ On (The Things “I always have an idea of what though, when the national tour We Gave Away), which was written I want an album to be like, but it for Utopian will feature one gig in 1999. never ends up like that. at The Peacock in Sunderland on Collaborations on the album “The only thing that’s remained April 8. Ian McNabb recently released his first double album, Utopian It’s an experience. 6.4m+ pages viewed every month.* *Source: Adobe Analytics monthly page impressions Jan-Jun 2018 To discuss your requirements: 01325 505226 [email protected] thenorthernecho.co.uk localiq.co.uk.