THE WAKE

This is the second IQ album. Compared to the first one, the tracks here are less epic, lasting not much more than 9 minutes. All the tracks are at least excellent. The keyboards are VERY varied, mixing old ones like organ and harpsichord with more modern ones. The electric guitar is quite less rebel rock than on the previous album, and Mike Holmes relies on MANY VERY sustained melodic guitar solos, having substantial echo effects: They sound like Steve HACKETT's electric guitar before the 80's. There are some choir-like keyboards (novatron?) floating in the background. The bass is very good, although it could be louder and more sophisticated. One of the best bit is on "Magic Roundabout", when the clean rythmic guitar embarks, producing with an OUTSTANDING mellow fretless bass a very pleasant & dreamy atmosphere: GRAND!!!!!!!! "Widow's Peak" has great fast and brief drums peaks. The last track, "Headlong", is very melodramatic and very progressive, nevertheless having a happy ending: it sounds like albums as old as "Nursery Cryme" and "Foxtrot", especially the beginning. The weak point is the poor ambience due to a "monochromatic" sound: I must remove half a star for that because it is very flagrant and irritating. Unfortunately, it does not sound as atmospheric as the "Subterranea", "Ever" and "Seventh House" albums. However, I strongly recommend the corresponding live album, "Living Proof", which has a quite better ambience & atmosphere.

My rating: 4.5/5