NOMZAMO

Ok, so "Nomzamo" is not a prog rock masterpiece; in fact it's hardly prog or rock. I'd say it's a pop album with a few prog structures in some songs. Taking the album as it is -a pop record by a neo prog band- I must say that it's not a bad record at all. In general I don't like neo prog, but I think "Nomzamo" is not such a horrible work as some people say, basically because it's not pretencious; it's its simplicity what appeals me the most. I don't know much about IQ but here the band sounds honest: there are some echoes of the most commercial sides of Genesis and Yes but they don't copy anybody (which is a lot if we talk about neo prog, isn't it?). Highlights? Well, the first two songs "No Love Lost" and "Promises" are two good pop songs (the second one has got a especially catchy tune); "Still Life" is a very relaxing track and includes a very beautiful sax (the best song here IMO); the second part of "Human Nature" is quite nice (reminds me of It Bites); "Common Ground" is a good song with a symphonic ending. The rest is a mix of pop and AOR which you might find a bit boring and, honestly, is nothing especial. To sum up, not an essential record at all but not as bad as some reviews state. It'd have to be 2.5 stars.