Search - ICARUS :: In Zaire/ Stone Fox Chase

Balearic curiosities

Duncan Wellings | London United Kingdom | 03/29/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"No one seems to know much about this band except that they recorded in Canada in the late 80's and appeared to serve mainly as vehicle for harmonica player, Jim Zeller. These are the only singles they seem to have released and both are cover versions. Stone Fox Chase was the first and is a cover version of the Area Code 615 instrumental that was used as the title music for the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test. It's a bit of a stomper but it's a tune that's been covered several times and arguably to better effect, perhaps most notably by Beats Workin' who released a 'version' entitled Sure Beats Workin which can be found on Balearic Beats vol 1.In Zaire is the more interesting of the two tracks and is a cover version of a 70's track by Johnny Wakelin. Wakelin had a hit with Black Superman, a paen to boxer, Muhammed Ali and followed it up with this musical account of Ali's legendry clash with George Foreman in Kinshahsa. The Icarus version is quite powerful and features a percussion break that was later used by Snap on their hit, Cult of Snap. The lyrics and the vocal delivery do make the whole thing sound just a little tacky, but it's all good fun none the less.Verdict: Balearic curiosities that are perhaps best left for the completists"