SUBTERRANEA

Maybe one of the better known albums of the neo progressive, and one of those opus that can demonstrate what a band is. IMO, IQ is better than Pendragon, Marillion and many neo prog groups, but it doesn't mean a superband. Genesis-Gabriel evidently influenced, "Subterranea" gives us more than hundred minutes of typical neo prog music, sometimes brilliant, sometimes reiterative, with the logical modern sound and the changing tunes, but -despite the work is pleasant to listen- two discs are too long if they turn around always in the same way. "Subterranea" first disc is my favorite, maybe I felt a little bit bored when second disc was playing. The fourth track, "Sleepless Incidental", is the best song. About second disc, the long suite "The Narrow Margin" is interesting too, but I must confess I was tired and waiting the end. IQ's music is melodic and enough powerful, even tough some tracks show us a little bit "commercial" feeling. "Subterranea" doesn't reach the brightness of "The Seventh House" but, nevertheless, this is a good stuff, and almost essential for those who love neo prog style.