Ian McNabb
Ian McNabb is known both for his work as leader and songwriter-in-chief of the Icicle Works in the 1980s, and his critically-acclaimed solo career throughout from the early 1990s to date.
All of McNabb's favourite topics were explored: what he calls the 'go get 'em' song ("Livin' Proof"), his Liverpudlian roots (the droll "Liverpool Girl"), fake celebrities ("Hollywood Tears"), and the West Coast of America which inspires so much of his work both musically and thematically ("[I Wish I Was In] California").
1998 saw McNabb as part of a touring band for Mike Scott and The Waterboys, playing bass and sometimes keyboards. Ian released the sublime A Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Emotional Party. Danny Thompson (Pentangle) played upright bass on five tracks, while Mike Scott and Anthony Thistlethwaite (Waterboys) provided some beautiful acoustic guitar, mandolin and saxophone between them. The stark confessional nature of the songs, combined with the stripped down approach produced a work of dazzling intensity.
