Neo-Prog
United Kingdom
One of the Pioneers on the British Neo Prog scene (apologies to Martin ORFORD - I know you hate the Neo Prog concept), IQ is one of the few bands from the 80's and 90's scene that superbly delivers a full symphonic, rich in emotion music. The outstanding vocals of Peter NICHOLLS give the band its trademark, but the keyboard arrangements from the multiband man Martin ORFORD (JADIS) really add to the atmosphere here. Not enough, the guitar work from Mike HOLMES completes the last essential ingredient of the band's musicianship.
The band is strongly influenced by (GABRIEL era) GENESIS, with a hard-edged and powerfull sound. Very extensive discography, in which you easely notice the band's evolution. I would say IQ is one of the few bands that has been able to maintain a growing curve in terms of musicianship and identity over the years. The music became heavier on the 90's, but with no doubt, it improved a lot.
They truly carried the torch of progressive music into the 80s. Their first two prosper albums, "Tales From The Lush Attic" and "The Wake" are among the very finest progressive rock albums released in that decade. However, IQ's most recent recordings "Ever" and the double-album, "Subterranea", are considered by many of their fans to be even better than their seminal early 80s work. ESSENTIAL PROG!!!
ALBUMS:
1985 Nine in a Pond is Here ("official bootleg" of demos etc., CD version is abridged)
- Paul Cook / rums
- Tim Essau / bass
- Mike Holmes / guitar
- Paul Menel / vocals
- Martin Orford / keyboards
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2004 - Dark Matter
Musicians
- Paul Cook / drums & percussion
- Mike Holmes / guitars & keyboards
- John Jowitt / bass guitar & bass pedals
- Peter Nicholls / lead vocals
- Martin Orford / keyboards & backing vocals
Tracks Listing
1. Sacred Sound (11:40)
2. Red Dust Shadow (5:53)
3. You Never Will (4:54)
4. Born Brilliant (5:20)
5. Harvest of Souls (24:29)
Total Time: 52:16
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2008 - FREQUENCY TOUR(Promo, released in 2008)
Tracks Listing
01 - Frequency (Alternative Mix) (8:09)
02 - Already Gone (5:32)
03 - Lost In Paradise (5:25)
04 - Crazy Horses (Live) (2:45)
05 - Corners (Demo) (5:47)
06 - Suffragette City (3:37)
07 - Crashed And Burned (Live) (10:00)
08 - The Province (Studio Outtake) (10:46)
09 - One Fatal Mistake (Extended) (7:10)
10 - Chemical Rain (5:27)
11 - Jet (Live) (4:16)
12 - Outer Limits (Demo) (7:53)
13 - Frequency (Live) (8:34)
Total Time 85:21
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2009 - FREQUENCY
Musicians
- Peter Nicholls / vocals
- John Jowitt / bass
- Mike Holmes / guitar
- Andy Edwards / drums
- Mark Westworth / keyboards
1. Frequency (8:29)
2. Life Support (6:28)
3. Stronger Than Friction (10:32)
4. One Fatal Mistake (4:54)
5. Ryker Skies (9:45)
6. The Province (13:43)
7. Closer (8:11)
Total Time 62:02
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