IQ

Aztech wrote: Dick please tell us more about this new IQ album Dark matter what are your impressions since you've got an advance copy ???

Aztech - I was surprised there are two reviews already up here - one fuller than I'm normally prepared to go. So as I'm learning about this band still I'm holding judgement for a couple of weeks to digest the album more fully. BTW I will feature some tracks on my radio show next Thursday .

Hello .. I'm a new member here. Yes, definitely IQ is my favorite. I kew this band sometime dated back 1985 when they released "The Wake". I like the title track very much. I started collecting their albums then. I like these albums: Ever, Subterranea, The wake, The Seventh House. Their live albums ForEver Live, Subterranea in Concert are also excellent.

Cheers,

shark wrote: A prog festival in Chippenham? Sounds like a good idea to me. Who's playing apart from IQ and Magenta? Any details re venue and date?

Here's some info on it:

http://www.geocities.com/progsfest/home.htm

It's only a 20 minute drive down the M4 for me (from Swindon) so I'll be there both days.

HI, THIS IS CÉSAR INCA.

'Ever' is very much relished by me, since I consider it the cornerstone in IQ' career: it didn't only singify the glorious return of Nicholls into the prog arena, but also the conquest of artistic maturity for the band /also Nicholls' maturiry as a perfomer and as a lyricist). Their studio and live recordings from 1993 onward are their golden age, IMHO... up to 'Dark Matter'? I haven't heard it yet, but some reviews are really enthusiastic.

Regards.

I've only been able to get my grubby little, undynamic hands on "Are You Sitting Comfortably?" and "Ever", so far.  But I like both of those albums so I definately give IQ a  .

"Ever" in particular sounds quite original and non-derivative to me.

HI, THIS IS CÉSAR INCA.

IQ is my all-time favourite neo-prog act... but more tha n20 years later, I'll settle to labelling them as simply a symphonic prog band, tha twas formed in the early 80s. I agree on that Menel's singing is superior in technical terms, but as an interpreter of lyricis, Nicholls' voice is what it needs to be... SPECIAL. Now, in IQ's latest albums ('Ever' onwards), yo can tell that his voice is a bit worn out... but his ability to convey emotional intensity is not only intact, but more mature and even more compelling. There is much hard rock-like attitude in their prog (besides de inheritance of UK, Genesis, 73-75 PF, and Camel), so I would have to say that their musical trend is really rocky, without forgetting the prog thing at all. They even manage to keep themselves alert to the modern pop scene without stopping being prog ('Subterranea', for example). I can't wait to purchase Dark Matter'!!!

Regards.

Aztech wrote: I really like IQ also .It took me a while to get used to Peters voice its "special" ie :high pitched and nasal but it has an emotional quality. I purchased  most of IQs albums in the last year. The first 2 are my favorites but Subterranea and the newer ones are good as well but the drumming seems more hard rock than prog on the later albums.

Paul Cook likes to give it some 'whelly' but I wouldn't call him hard rock exactly.Prog drummers come in many forms from Bruford's jazzier stylings to Portnoy's heavier approach.That's one of the reasons I love this genre.It's all allowed

Aquarius wrote: I have 5 IQ albums. Tales, the Wake, Living Proof, Nomzamo and Are you sitting Comfortably. The first couple are real good but the sound is aweful. For some reason I liked Paul Menel's voice better than Peter Nichol's. To me it sounds like whining too much. Sorry for all you IQ fans. I think the band is great though. Perhaps I'll check out their new album.

You really need to check out 'Ever','Subterranea' and 'The Seventh House' as well.These have the polished sheen that is lacking on the first 2 IQ albums.However 'The Wake' is still a bit special to me and the rough sound is one of it's many charms.It almost seems to come from the earth itself and fits the dark themes extremely well.I wouldn't want it changed or remixed even if they had the chance to do it.