Icarus - Monologues

In a funny twist of fate, this writer has been handed Monologues, the debut album from Edinburgh-outfit Icarus, for review, having just critiqued Daedelus’s latest venture, Love To Make Music To. After having listened to it, it’s a pleasure to report that Icarus is just as good as Daedelus. Fusing hip-hop, ambient leftfield, rock and even hints of funk and jazz, this trio operates in no set genre. After hearing one song, the album fools your brain into anticipating what you’ll hear next, then playing something completely different to what you were expecting to follow. The group handles every genre they deal with well, so that none are compromised. With sounds akin to Massive Attack, Overseer, and even a little bit of Rage, Icarus have created an album that is both curiously different and immensely gratifying. An excellent debut containing some blindingly good electronic beats and magnificent hip-hop tunes, made all the more appealing by its distinctive and intriguing setup. [Michael Slevin]