IQ20 - THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

This is a pretty solid recording of a live show I was actually at - the 2001 Mean Fiddler gig to honour IQ's 20th anniversary. With the Seventh House as their freshest studio album at the time, you get a bit of that here, but also cuts from across IQ's existence (as well as the warm-up act - a one-night only reformation of the Lens), with a full version of The Last Human Gateway finding them pushing the boat out.

There's plenty of guests here and there, including former bassist Tim Esau (who a good while after this would end up rejoining the band) who shows up for some special tunes including the first time the Wake-era lineup actually played Headlong live together on stage. There's also a rambunctious atmsophere which on the one hand I can confirm was true to the celebratory mood live in the venue, but also means that there's the odd bit of goofing around, so if you're after the best possible renditions of this material there's other IQ live releases which might serve you better. If, however, you just want a good time with the IQ lads, it's not half bad.