IQ

Sitting listening to a great band called IQ been a fan for a few years now, anyone else here like them?

 Hi Vi! How's yer hi fi, Vi? Spry? High five!

 IQ are new to me, but I loved The Wake. See my review of same on the main site.

Good stuff!

Edited by Peter Rideout

SV:

Like Peter, I've only heard "The Wake," which I absolutely love (I've also reviewed the album).  I'm looking forward to hearing more of their stuff.

Nice to "hear your voice" again...

Peace.

I'm a fan.I've seen them 3 times live and they are always good value.'The Wake' is a classic but my all time favourite IQ album is 'Ever' .One track in particular Further Away knocks most 90's prog straight in to touch.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing them at the Chippenham prog festival in September along with a fine new band called Magenta and others.Maybe I might see some of you there!

IQ is one of the best neo-prog bands. Their last record : "The seventh house" is truly great, especially the last track, which blends neo with metal-prog. It's a good thing they returned to form after Paul Menel left. Their two first albums are must-have for any Genesis afficionados. "Ever" marked a welcome return to their prog roots and is regarded as one of their best efforts. The two albums that followed are also proving they didn't lost faith in their earlier aesthetics. Peter Nicholls was for sure inspired by Peter Gabriel but his voice is very unique and a deep emotion soars from it. I saw them live in Paris 2 years ago, and they were on top form. I don't know if they are still active but I hope they will release some new stuff soon.

If you ever encounter a problem locating a certain CD, you only have to look to three of the biggest prog vendors, worldwide, and they're all in the States:

http://www.synphonic.8m.com

http://www.lasercd.com

http://www.waysidemusic.com

And there's also eBay.

 

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.

 

 

Edited by richardh

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

 

Nice pics!

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.