EVER

As a true neo-progger I'm having a hard time reviewing IQ-albums. IQ is one of the most important neo prog bands in history but still I can't find my way to really liking them. I don't know if it's the mellow voice of Peter Nicholls that causes the problem or the fact that their music simply doesn't have the energy that's required to suit my taste. Probably it's a combination of those two that is the reason I will never be a real IQ-fan.

Still I bought a number of albums by this band, because well, you can never be sure about your opinion and this bands gets a lot of credits so they have to come from somewhere. Maybe I'm misjudging them, another reason is that Subterranea was one of my first purchases and I did like that one, so that also makes you think: you never know, there might be another jewel in their discography.

How about Ever ? Well, to begin with: this album contains the best IQ-song ever to me, Further away (maybe along with Narrow Margin). This is a great song, very good composition, nice instrumental passages and quite energetic for IQ standard. And there are three more songs on this release I'm quite fond of: Darkest Hour, Fading senses and especially Leap of faith which was a pleasant surprise to me last time I checked out the disk.

So all in all this wasn't so bad, I really do believe IQ has too much class to deserve 1 or 2 stars (except for The Wake which was really poor to me). Still I can't imagine me giving any album by this band 5 stars. They are just not really my cup of tea. Still 4 stars for this (3.5).