The Good China
Icecream Hands
Highly underrated, Icecream Hands are one of Australia’s finest pop exports. The band have recently released another fine addition to their growing catalogue and I got in touch with the band to get some comments on the 11 tracks that make up The Good China. Here is what I got.

Certifiably erratic, bottle throwing, hot air blowing and perpetually drunk on the studio control room couch co-producer East Van Parks passes judgement via his (very striking looking Germanic personal assistant and) translator on a few Icecream Hands songs.
In the Back Seat of A Stolen Car
"Oooohhh this song is so rocking. Like a crazy rocking horsey with Smiley playing like the forces of nature, like a big windy blowing horsey rider... clippy cloppy horsey, clippy cloppy."
 Say That You Want Me Some More
"Again… so rocking… so short… I can't understand what he is saying… do you know?"
 Launceston
"Mmmm very funky beginning... This one I like even more than the others. This one originally sounded like Bob Dylan singing with Chic. Can you believe that? Now that was a good idea."
 Weak At The Knees
"This one builds up so good... They are very talented boys... Though Chucky can be such a grumpy coal miner type person guy... But still, pretty good eh?"
 My Mother Was A Dancer
"Aahhh yes, this song is the most beautiful song ever... My mother was a dancer too! She could do the can-can... Kick up her legs this high!"
Come Along
"This one was written for my old drug buddy Harry Schmilsson, no wait, I'll think of his name in a minute. Doug and Marcus wanted to write a song with a four part harmony all the way through. If you listen closely, you can hear the fifth one that I made!"

Guitarist and vocalist Marcus Goodwin comments on his tracks.
Holding On 
“I had the tune going on my piano and the first line of the lyrics for ages. I tossed around a few different lyrical ideas before finally settling on the story of a good friend and his long relationship with the wrong girl.”
This Is What I Want
“You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs…well, they probably have but that doesn’t stop me. The middle 8 is my favourite bit."

Comments by drummer Derek G. Smiley, who co-wrote the song with Dougie Lee Robertson
Everything You Are
“It's a story of missed opportunity and the malady caused by not focusing on what is important in your life.”

Dougie Lee Robertson, bassist and vocalist comments on two of his songs.
Anyway
“This one was all about the rhythm; fat acoustic bass and drums. Only figured out what it was about a couple of weeks before putting down the vocal. Even now I am not sure what exactly it is about.”
Everyone's Waiting
“As usual, about a girl. East kept wanting to change the key, tempo and arrangements, so this one was probably the fifth version recorded. He dicked around with it so much, we didn't have time to put on the piano and string parts I had in mind. Damn that crazy Dutchman. Oh well at least he's not my faarjer!!" (Editor's note: That's 'Father')

Thanks for the comment guys! The Good China is in record stores now.
Rob Hudson
www.myspace.com/icecreamhands