TALES FROM THE LUSH ATTIC

It's hard for me to give this CD just 3 stars due because I really did like it alot. I'd give it 3.5 if allowed but not quite 4 because of a couple of flaws.The first handicap is the production quality. This album could have sounded alot better with better engineering. Of particular interest on the CD are the two longer tracks.

THE LAST HUMAN GATEWAY begins with an annoying low hiss before you hear the flute openening. From there Peter Nichols does his best "Nichols doing Gabriel, doing Gabriel" but it's not distacting enough to turn you away. From there we get a taste of Martin Orford's chops as the mid section turns bombastic and frantic, calling to mind a few YES references. With better engineering and a little more structure this song could have been one of the all time best epis but it does amble about in sections and seems to lose steam.

AWAKE AND NERVOUS is my favorite song on the album beause it smacks you right in the face with it's might and it's majesty. Paul Cook was nowhere near the drummer he was to become but his battery in the opening stanza of this song would make even Neal Peart proud. The lyrics are somewhat confusing but then Mr. Nichols is famous for this. As with the rest of this album, this song would have benefitted from better production. Still it has all the basic elements one would hope for in a good to great progressive song. This is IQ at the beginning stages of their rise to one of the best outfits on the circuit.

I flip flop between this band and the FLOWER KINGS as to which one I feel is more compelling in telling stories with music and I have to say, starting with this album and the 2 tracks mentioned, IQ has a better feel for the dramatic and transition more smoothly through their breaks and bridges better than the former.

TALES FROM THE LUSH ATTIC is somewhat essential to a collection but not completely. If you want to get into this band, don't start with this CD, Try THE 7TH HOUSE or THE WAKE.