IQ have been one of my favourite bands for over a quarter of a century.  Other than a temporary dip during the hiatus of Peter Nicholls in the late 80s they have continued to produce quality albums whilst at the same time sticking to their prog roots.  Whilst described as neo, to me they play classic symphonic prog, although I appreciate that given their heritage as a standard bearer of the "progressive rock revival" I'm sure they will remain as neo prog.  I think they are worthy of their own appreciation thread.

 

My favourite albums by IQ are:-

 

1.  The Seventh House

2.  Subterranea (I'm really loving this at the moment)

3.  The Wake

4.  Tales From The Lush Attic

5.  Frequency

 

They have always been great live and I've seen them several times over the years.  I have a ticket to see them at The Met in Bury in October, so if anyone on PA will be there I'll see you then!! 

 

I'd be really interested to read anybody else's thoughts/trips down memory lane and I'll post again in more detail when I get the time.

 

 

 

 

I dug Nomzamo and Ever out the other day and was amazed at how dated they sounded (those 80's and early 90's production styles are not to my taste).

I always liked their stuff a great deal.

 

I guess I'm more of a fan of their newer, more symphonic, direction because I absolutely adore Dark Matter and Frequency and have a harder time getting into their older stuff. To be honest, though, the only other IQ album I've really listened to is Subterranea and I've only listened to it once, so I think I need to give their older stuff more of a chance.

 

I'm not a big IQ fan even though I'm PA's biggest neo fan. Probably they are too intelligent for me .

But I will give my list of their albums in order of my preference:

 

1. Seventh House   4,25*

2. Subterrenea (like your top two, but the rest is totally different)   4,1*

3. Ever  3,6*

4. J'ai Polette d'Arnu  3,5*

5. Tales from the Lush Attic  3,5*

6. Are you sitting comfortably ?  3,25*

7. Dark Matter  3,2*

8. Nomzamo 2,9*

9. The Wake 2,5*

 

And I still have to explore Frequency (my supplier did the same thing here as yours did with The Flower King: they didn't have it at the right time so I will have to wait a while) But I guess it will be on 3rd or 4th place estimated from what I've heard and read.

 

Can you give your list of all these albums (right now I only know your top 5) Roj ?

 

Hi Henk and thanks for posting.  I've been a little quiet the last few days.  Here's my ratings of the IQ studio albums:-

7 Stories Into 8 - 3.25 stars.  Great promise on this classic oldie.

Tales From The Lush Attic - 5 stars.  One of the very best early neo albums in terms of composition, if not production 

The Wake - 4.5-4.75 stars.  Brilliant album, I've always loved this one.

Nomzamo - 2.5 stars.  Proof that Peter Nicholls is essential to IQ.

Are You..... - 2.5 stars.  As above.

Ever - 3.5 stars.  This one underwhelmes me a little, but Leap Of Faith is truly amazing.

Subterranea - 5 stars.  Wonderful concept album, very atmospheric.  Strangely the epic is for me a (relative) weak point.

Seventh House.  Their best album.  Superb from start to finish, a masterpiece.

Seven Stories Into 98 - 3.75 stars.  Excellent renewal of this oldie.

Dark Matter - 3.5 stars.  Sacred Sound is as good as anything they've done.  Tracks 2-4 are good but whilst HOS has some great parts it leans on Suppers Ready too much for me.

Frequency - 4.25 stars.  Excellent album but with a couple of weaker tracks.  The better tracks (1,2,3 and 5) are absolutely tremendous.

So that's my verdict, and I'm sure many will disagree.  Don't worry Henk, I'll never stray too far from the TFK thread 

 

 

I understand this question Jeff and indeed it requires some explanation. It's not even that I like Are you sitting that much (though it's good imo) but more that I don't care for Dark Matter really. And that's not quite easy to explain. I don't like the long epic (for such a long track it's not memorable enough for me especially compared to The Seveth House and Further Away f.i.) and none of the shorter tracks to be honest . Just Sacred Sound is good enough but no better than Falling apart at the Seams.

 

Also, I am really enjoying Martin Orford's solo CDs.  The Road Home is excellent.  I listened to Classical Music and Popular songs for the first time today and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it fit in with the IQ discography.  With the album title I was expecting something totally different.

 

A man of good taste here.  A damn fine album indeed.  Welcome to the thread Robert

 

I am going to see IQ in concert this saturday, at The Met Theatre in Bury.  It's a fantastic venue, fits maybe 300 people, standing only, and the bar is excellent too .  And I'm not driving so I get to have a few beers while watching one of my favourite bands .  They are due to play the entire Frequency album so that should be great.  I really think that most of the album is absolutely top class and I very much look forward to hearing Riker Skies.

 

Good to see the thread has had a bump. 

 

Hi Scott. 

 

Martin's discography is something I've not explored yet, though I have a couple on my birthday wish list, so fingers crossed .

 

So I take it Classical Music.... is actually prog, as opposed to it's title?

I disagree with Roj on this one here is my list

1. Dark Matter

2. Ever

3. Subterranea

4. The Wake

5. Seventh House

6. Tales from the Lush attic

7. Frequency

8. Are you sitting comfortably

9. Nom zamo

 

Having said that Are you sitting comfortably and nom zamo have FOUR outstanding tracks -

Human Nature. Nostalgia/Coming apart at the seams/Common Ground/Wuhrensh the rest is well below par.

Harvest of souls is one of their best efforts and 150% better than anything on the latest CD excpet the title track.....(If frequency had been extended to 25 mins - the latest album would jump four places !!!)

 

Interestingly Jim, I read on IQ's own forum a post by Martin where he was adamant the band actually retained some of the parts he'd played on the Frequency album, rather than Mark Westworth re-doing them.  Despite this, he still didn't get credited.  The band denied it though. 

 

I personally think Martin will be missed by IQ.  I think he's a fantastic keyboard player, one of my favourites of the modern era.  Whilst Mark Westworth seems a perfectly capable keysman, Orford has always had great presence, both when soloing and providing a backdrop.  I find he has great touch, warmth and feeling in his playing. 

 

The proof of the pudding will be when IQ produce material that Westworth himself has had a hand in writing.  Let's hope we don't have to wait 5 years for the next one .

 

 

Me too.  In many ways it really stinks being a fan of so many prog bands based in England or mainland Europe that can't afford to tour our side of the ocean.  I'd love to see bands like IQ, Pendragon, and Marillion live, without having to travel halfway across the country to attend a festival.  But hey, at least Britney Spears came here the other day.

 

 

 

1- Frequency is my favor too. If you listen to CAMEL's " RAJAZ" you find the root of this album.( This is my idea)

2- If you listen to "Ever" you can find RUSH's " SIGNALS" style.( You dont list this album)

3- IQ is very powerful prog band. but every album of this band similar to other prog rock bands like Rush,Genesis(Gabriel era), Camel and.....

 

RUSH? not too sure of that, anyway Rush ceased to be prog and became pop - after Moving Pictures!!!

 

At least it's not all bad then Scott .

 

YES RUSH. if you listen to SIGNALS and focus on technicaly elements you got that. i agree with you : SIGNALS and POWER WINDOWS have POP-TOUCH and i dont mean EVER completely match to SIGNALS. but IQ get many idea from SIGNALS in EVER album.

 

A full rendition of Frequency was followed by some earlier classics.  Best of the lot had to be that they played The Narrow Margin, I really wasn't expecting that .  The Wake/Headlong as an encore was pretty impressive too.

 

I'll post a full review of the gig once I get more time....

 

No, no Erosion this time.  Other than the full Frequency album they played The Darkest Hour, the wonderful Sacred Sound (my all-time IQ no.2 so I was happy), Guiding Light, Narrow Margin, It All Stops Here, The Wake and Headlong ( another fave of mine).

 

When I get some pics sorted out I'll post a review of the gig.........

 

1. Frequency

2. Ever

3. Dark Matter

4. Subterranea

5. The Seventh House

 

I don't care for their early albums though - they were too much Genesis wanabes for my taste back then!

Albums with Mennel are not of my liking as well...

1-Seventh House

2-Dark Matter

3-Subterranea

4-The Wake

5-Ever

6-Frequency

 

IQ are a very important band to me. When I was getting disillusioned with prog rock in the early eighties up popped this band. I first heard them on Tommy Vance's 'Friday Rock Show' doing a session that included Gateway. I was immediately impressed as they were a band with obvious ability.

I picked up THe Wake soon after and within a few plays this was completely addictive listening for me. A prog band with balls and even a bit of a punky attitude.

 

I remember then getting very excited when I heard that they had a new album coming out called Nomzamo. So much so I went down to the Our Price records in town to check if they had it it in yet at least 3-4 times. Eventually they di but oh what a massive let down. Horrible jingly jangly 80's production and a very different weak vocalist. No Pete Nicholls no balls.

 

So I pretty much gave up on them and didn't bother with either Are You Sitting Comfortably or Ever which didn't have very particularly appealing album covers.But some time around 1997 or whenever it was I was browsing the CD racks and picked out the latest double CD by IQ called Subterannea. I liked the artwork and so had a look at the sleevenotes and noticed that Pete Nicholls was back in. Wonderfull! Bought it staright away and what a joy it was.Serious proper mature prog for the nineties. I could emmerse myself quite happily with the headphones on and shut out the world.

 

About a year or so later I had the privilege of seeing them perform the whole of Subterannea at the now defunct Astoria. What a gig. They even finished later than planned doing a full version of Gateway. To this day still one of my favourite gigs. 

 

Since then I've counted IQ as one of my favourite bands. Only ELP and perhaps Rush I would put ahead of them. They have never released a bad album (Nomzamo is just mediocre and the rest are good or better).Frequency shows they still have a lot left in them.

 

My favourite IQ albums:

The Wake

Ever

Frequency

The Seventh House

Tales From The Lush Attic

 

but really I can listen quite happily to anything they have done which is a rare thing.

 

I have to say Frequency is one of the greatest prog albums I have had the pleasure to hear! Do you agree with my review?

 

"The first atomic bomb was dropped on a military base called Hiroshima...."

"Frequency" begins with a voice over speaking of a nuclear assault. The intro is unbelievable! The impressive music is beautifully executed, Mike Holmes' clean soaring guitars, chugging riffs like Led Zeppelin, ambient sustained mellotron and keyboard pads by Mark Westworth, with expressive, creative drumming from Andy Edwards, the bass by John Jowitt is played virtuoso style as well. The vocals of Peter Nicholls are clean, inviting and uplifting, sounding somewhat like Neal Morse at times. "Frequency" is an incredible followup to 2004's "Dark Matter". This is marginally the better album of the two, though "Dark Matter" was certainly a very good album. There is more innovation and stronger compositions on this conceptual work. Due to the strong melodies throughout this album it is a genuine grower, and you are likely to love each track the more you listen to it, nothing on it is a throwaway or filler, it is all solid prog at its best. I heard it three times in a row and eventually succumbed to the fact that this, as far as I am concerned, is one of the most uplifting prog albums of recent years and I rate it as a masterpiece of neo prog.

Frequency is one of the best IQ numbers, with solid time signature changes and a positive sound with special effects and melancholy keyboards. Mike Holmes' guitar riffs are dynamic and the lead breaks are emotive and Pink Floydian. Nicholls' warm vocals spell out the main themes of the album: "Before I was undiscovered, When I was invincible, Nobody could kill the silence And probably no one will again, The future was unrelated, Alternatives all pursued, The lives that got separated When others were split in two." It is a brilliant composition and unforgettable.

Life Support begins with beautiful piano and sustained pads and then those warm emotional vocals chime in. This is so uplifting, and reminiscent of Transatlantic. The lyrics are reflecting on life's trials and how to overcome. The mood changes as a thunderous sound is heard and it builds to a crescendo then a lead guitar swoops over as drums keep a steady metrical pattern. Westworth's spacey synth is alienating and futuristic, similar to the type heard in electronic music. It is a lengthy instrumental and as good as it gets. The synths merge with majestic guitar leads. A very melodic motif repeats in various forms and locks into your head. It is absolute bliss when the band are in full flight. The wind effects are airy, ethereal and haunting towards the end. I adored this track the first time I heard it and it gets better with each listen.

Stronger than Friction, an ironic take on Stranger Than Fiction, begins with a melodic guitar riff, and the positive vocals of Nicholls harmonise about ways of living "until our worlds collide" . At 3:50 the heavy beat halts and an ambient mellotron soaked pad sizzles along as the vocals become softer and the whole song becomes a "turning tide" . I like the fast riff at 6:40 where the time sig changes completely again and the vocals are more aggressive. The sporadic bass and drums are off kilter and there is a lilting keyboard and ascending lead guitar break. One of the true highlights of the album and in fact the first 3 tracks are prime example of Neo Prog at its best.

One Fatal Mistake is a melancholic ballad, a gentle soothing sound that warms you up. The lyrics are encouraging and lift up the spirits; "Imagine all you could have been, Eventually you would have seen, The wanderlust, And all you dared to dream of, If ever you make one fatal mistake, You broke me, you have no idea, In darkness I see more than hear, Impossible, even I can say, Many would have walked away." There is always a ray of hope injected in to the lyrics that talk of how to overcome despair and difficult circumstances. The melody is very pleasant to the ears and musically there is a lot on offer here especially the transfixing guitars and keyboards.

Ryker Skies features thick buzzsaw synth and flowing acoustics. I first heard this on a Prognosis CD from the Prog magazine and it stood out as much as it does here. Once again the atmosphere is ambient textures of melancholy reflection. The lyrics are emotive, "I'm reeling, fighting for breath, Running on empty, A fortress carved out of steel, Black and surrounding, No other survivors, the walls without end, So where have I come to?" A very strong bass and drum beat with crashing cymbals kicks in. The lead break is replete with bends and pitched picking. The next section of vocals sound like Ayreon's deep robotic effect voices on "Universal Migrator"; "Welcome, hero, to Ryker Skies, Where all your hopes are stored, You can leave responsibilities in ruins at the door". The mellotron is ever present as the cleaner vocals of Nicholls take over with high octaves; a very nice sound and killer melody as the song swings in to full gear, "Get it knocked into your thick skull, It's really not that hard It's a cast iron binding covenant And this is just the start, There are insults and injuries, You've heaped upon yourself, But you play the victim, While you pile the blame on someone else". This track has some of the most memorable lyrics of IQ and the chorus, once it gets in your head, well you will never forget that melody, "So before I state my intention to live or die, I command your total attention In Ryker Skies." I love the way the track merges into a full blown keyboard attack. Once again a throbbing beat ensues like the machinated pulses of Ayreon. The acoustic flourishes are a lovely touch, adding to the very airy atmosphere. I would rate this as a proposed single from the album, as it is more commercial in sound, but this does not detract from the musicianship which is excellent throughout. A wonderful song.

The Province is a 13 minute IQ romp with textures of light and dark, moments of tension and release are present and infectious melodic verses. The style at times is not dissimilar to the sound of Peter Gabriel's Genesis. There is a heavy guitar riff that overpowers the soundscape after a time. The staccato synthesizer chords are fantastic as tradeoffs with guitar. There is a lot of acoustic work but it is well balanced by the heavier sections. There are many changes in tempo and mood and it progresses into minimalist piano and vocals at the end; "I cannot count the many ways cos' there's nothing real... before the wireless kills."

Closer is as far removed from the obscene industrial NIN song of the same name as you can get. It is a balladic song with positive vocals that are close to Neal Morse or Spock's Beard; "Slandered and betrayed, A character assassination, Watch the guilty fade, Now the work is done, Ghosts of early days, Gather round the later rivals, All parade upon the earth to which they're bound, Silent in their course, They steal across the icy stations, Words are useless now, They fall upon the ground." The song builds gradually until we get a majestic instrumental break with soaring keyboards and then a beautifully sung verse with powerful lyrics; "Hold on, when I'm dead and gone from you, Remember me as light breaking through, Stay strong, any time you feel you're lost, I will carry you back across". The piano motif becomes hypnotic toward the end repeated as guitars and sporadic drums maintain a melancholy mood, closing the album in style.

Overall, "Frequency" is the best I have heard from IQ, melancholy, with moments of heavy tension, and those soaring powerful vocals: this is neo prog at a virtuoso level and I think it's one of the albums of 2009. Accessible and soaring vocally, atmospheric and ambient musically. A masterful work of high quality musicianship.

From waht I remember thats a pretty good album. Maybe IQ just doesn't click with you. Maybe try a more recent album like Dark Matter.

 

Also, I was getting the album cover on Amazon.com to post in the What Are You Listening to Now? thread and I saw that Amazon is selling the mp3 album download for only $6.99 USD.  Well worth it given that you get 19 songs for this $6.99 price.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023GUXNS/sr=1-1/qid=1288102035/ref=sr_1_1_digr?ie=UTF8&qid=1288102035&sr=1-1 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023GUXNS/sr=1-1/qid=1288102035/ref=sr_1_1_digr?ie=UTF8&qid=1288102035&sr=1-1

 

Its a while since I listened to either CD but I always preferred the studio version although the live version is okay.

 

I also have absolutely no problem with the Paul Menel era albums Nomzamo & Are You Sitting Comfortably. I like them just as much as the Pete Nicholls output.

 

Anyway, for me as well, these guys represent the best of 80s prog, the only rival in my mind being Marillion's Misplaced Childhood. I also find, probably like most contributors to this thread, that their more recent output has been uncompromisingly excellent. What I've been thinking about lately, though, is Paul Cook's drumming. I've noticed in a few reviews, that Paul's drumming sometimes gets slighted, but other day I was losing myself in The Seventh House, and found myself quite transported by the percussion in the instrumental break in "Guiding Light." Has anybody else out there been similarly impressed by Paul's drumming? And if so, what songs best showcase his considerable abilities?

 

No, it is one of their weakest since Subterranea. Some déjà-vu in this album. I only enjoy the balads.

 

 

The Wake, Nomzamo and Are You Sitting Comfortably are my favourite albums. I lost my interest in them with Subterranea and The Seventh House.

 

I must say, they blew me away in the old days. Now I don't listen too much to them anymore, but sometimes I can still get excited about the three albums that I mentioned, plus I think the debut album and Ever are good.

 

Over the years I'v grown quite found of Are You Sitting Comfortably? A much more mature effort in my opinion although it is borderline pop/prog rather out and out prog. But I don't mind that and perhaps a comparision could be drawn to eighties band It Bites which was also in a similar vein.

The final song on that album Nothing At All is one of my very favourite songs by anyone and a great way for Paul Menel to bow out. Love the second verse:

 

Love matters most wherever it comes from

We see each other when our eyes are closed

Its not so easy living out of the shadows

It would break my heart if you broke the spell

Heaven is waiting and waiting is hell

 

Very talented wordsmith Paul but perhaps not quite suited to the world of prog I suspect. Did an important job filling in for Pete though and deserves a lot of respect.

One comparison that jumped to my mind while reading recent posts to this thread is with Rush albums from the mid - late 80s. These albums are also much and unfairly maligned, and for the same reasons as the Menel albums. But as you say, these were dark days for prog generally. I should point out with these albums that, even given the prog/pop orientation, the musicianship remains excellent and the overall sound very full.

Wasn't 'Are You Sitting Comfortably?' produced by Terry Brown (or was it Peter Collins??)? On my remastered edition there is no production credit .

Anyway I know whoever it was also produced Rush around that period as well. I think I agree to some extent although I did miss that raw quality that was on the first two IQ albums.Just seemed more 'honest' and in keeping with their music which was quite emotional and aggressive at the time although I like where IQ ended up on Ever which seemed to have the best of both worlds (clean but packing a punch)

Terry Brown

Then again, my first Doctor was Christopher Eccelson, so this thread is kind like being in a room full of Tom Baker fans.

 

I've known IQ since the very beginning and my list of favourites come from all their eras.  However, my favourite three at the moment are The Seventh House, Subterranea and The Wake.

 

Just missed them recently at Bury when they played The Wake in it's entirety - that was a real shame.

I do think they have gotten better with time, but The Wake, IMHO, is still a terrific album.

I seem to have missed out on all the Neo prog thing in the 80s except for Marillion of course. But I don't really like Marillion and then I really didn't like them. When I first heard !Q's Lush Attic about 10 years ago I liked it straight away. Just a bshame I was not aware of them or mthe rest of the similar acts back then,

I also LOVE Dark Matter, I know Roj dislikes Genesis more than Floyd n Yes - thus his disdain for Harvest of Souls - A superb suppers ready appreciation track if ever there was one!

 

Tales From The Lush Attic - The Last Human Gateway

The Wake - Widow's Peak

Nomzamo - Common Ground

Are You Sitting Comfortably? - Nothing At All

Ever - Further Away

Subterranea - Capricorn

The Seventh House - The Seventh House

Dark Matter - Sacred Sound

Frequency - Frequency

 

Good idea. Here are mine:

Tales from the Lush Attic: Last Human Gateway

The Wake: Headlong

Nomzamo: Human Nature

Are You Sitting Comfortably: Falling Apart at the Seams

Ever: Leap of Faith

Subterranea: The Narrow Margin

Seventh House: Guiding Light

Dark Matter: Harvest of Souls

Frequency: has been Frequency but currently shifting toward The Province

Yeah, nice idea .

 

7 Stories Into 8 - It All Stops Here 

Tales From The Lush Attic - The Last Human Gateway

The Wake - The Magic Roundabout

Nomzamo - Common Ground

Are You Sitting Comfortably? - War Heroes

Ever - Leap Of Faith

Subterranea - Sleepless Incidental

The Seventh House - The Seventh House

Dark Matter - Sacred Sound

Frequency - Riker Skies

 

Rob, I love Genesis and absolutely adore Supper's Ready.   I really don't mind "appreciation" of a classic as you call it, but for me on Harvest Of Souls, IQ just went a little too far.  Don't get me wrong, it's still very good, but as such I tend to not listen to it that much.  For me Sacred Sound is the best on Dark Matter by some distance.