Bill'em Dan-o(always wanted to say that), it is just a coil, with yet a different half hitch strategy under it; this is styled to make a stiff pusher ring, as well as buffer loading to both ends of the coil instead of jsut 1 like Distel and Schwab; so they aren't self tending like Icicle!
i don't think you can grab both legs and pull like we use the hitch to grip tapered spar. The way it was developed by John Smith to show at Intnl. Knot Tyers Guild; to specifically meet the accepted as impossible challenge to grip and pull a polished, tapered spar; is the same lacing but pulling bottom coil leg to purposefully trap leg that leads to top of coil against the tapered spar. Then, the hitch is used as intended; to pull the tapered spar.
Icicle is a nice fairly self tending ride (better than Knut and the TK variation of Knut with Marl IMLHO); along with it's brother the Sailor's Gripping Hitch(that Tim asked about recently); of which i ride a self modified version of. i think my ride self tends very nicely; especially in 3/8" Tenex. Which i also favored the Icicle and Sailor's Gripping Hitch for it's better grip, strength and less leveraged loss of strength around the tight/tight bend of coiling around a 1/2" host life line.