NOMZAMO

For me, it is debatable should the so-called neo-prog be considered "progressive" music at all, but OK - some MARILLION works are indeed very good. What is happening with this IQ album is that they try to imitate the pop/non-prog phase of GENESIS, which they did here quite successful. "No Love Lost", "Promises" (even with terrible vocals), "Nomzamo", "Still Life" and "Passing Strangers" are surely pleasant, listenable pop songs that could hit any popular radio station. Album is closing with a decent, atmospheric anti-war song "Common Ground". However, the problem for me is that "Nomzamo" album is all too decent, predictible, too much Phil Collins-style singing and Hackett-style guitar playing, no innovation, no experimentation, no new ideas, no-prog sound. This is absolutely non- essential album for serious prog fans, and may be interesting for neo-prog experts and lovers of post-"Duke" GENESIS period.