The best way hear Michael Hearst's latest musical compositions is blaring from an ice cream truck as it pulls around the corner. His album, Songs For Ice Cream Trucks, is just that, new music for ice cream trucks recorded with a delightful array of instruments, from glockenspiel to Theremin to an old Casio keyboard. While Songs For Ice Cream Trucks is a novel idea for a novelty record, it transcends the gimmick. Like old circus and carousel music, I found the melodies on Songs For Ice Cream Trucks to be hauntingly beautiful, sometimes sickeningly sweet, and often eerily familiar. I hope my neighborhood ice cream man gets turned on to this new sound of summer.
For a taste, please enjoy listening to "Where Do Ice Cream Trucks Go In The Winter?" courtesy of the artist:
Link to buy Songs For Ice Cream Trucks
Link to Hearst's site
Link to Hearst on NPR's Fresh Air
Link to Today Show coverage
Link to Listening Post interview with Hearst
Link to BAR/NONE Records
UPDATE: Tom Whitwell points to his neat 2005 post on MusicThing titled "Why do ice cream vans sounds they way they do?" Link
