IQ are a British neo-prog band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981 following the
dissolution of their original band The Lens. Although the band have never enjoyed major commercial success and had several lineup changes, IQ have built up a loyal following over the years and are still active as of 2024, currently with the original recording line-up (with the exception of Orford).
Formed in the 1980s, IQ is comprised of Martin Orford, Paul Cook, Mike Holmes, Peter Nicholls, and
John Jowitt. IQ were one of a number of British bands formed during the early 1980s, including Marillion, Pendragon, Twelfth Night, Pallas and Solstice, that continued with the progressive rock style forsaken by 1970s bands such as Genesis and Yes. The music press have subsequently coined the phrase neo-progressive to describe these bands, often accusing them of simply copying the styles of other bands.
This accusation has been strenuously denied by Martin Orford, who is against the use of the term "neo
progressive" and claims the band have wide-ranging and eclectic selection of musical influences. This prolific band has released 14 albums, beginning with 1983's Tales From the Lush Attic. They followed two years later with The Wake and Living Proof was also released in 1995.
The next year saw the group release Nine in a Pond Is Here and Nomzamo came out in 1987. It was
two years before they would release another disc, Are You Sitting Comfortably? and after another two years, IQ released J'ai Pollette D'arnu. 1993 saw the release of Ever and it would be three years this time until the world would see another album by IQ, Forever Live, released both in standard form and as a box set.
The following year the group released Subterranea and Seven Stories Into '98 came out, appropriately
enough, in 1998. The Lost Attic was released in 1999 and two more followed in 2000: the first was the live album, Subterranea: The Concert, and the second was The Seventh House.
IQ - TALES FROM THE LUSH ATTIC 1983 (30th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR'S EDITION) 2013
There's an air to this album that gathers attention, especially on the synth-ridden passages. Quick interchanges of 12-string guitar and Mellotron create an instrumental seesaw effect, peaking in the longer tracks like the 20-minute "Last Human Gateway" or "The Enemy Smacks." Changes of tempo
sneak up throughout the whole of the album, either head manned by dominant keyboard staccatos or winding electric string solos. The flow is energetic, never lagging, and the songs allot enough time to focus on what is being played. The layered synth pieces don't fully overlap Mike Holmes' guitar playing, so that the music can be appreciated by way of isolation. IQ may have missed progressive rock's glory days, but they hold their own on this release from early in their career.
(By Mike DeGagne)
IQ – Tales From The Lush Attic
Label: Giant Electric Pea – GEPCDDVD2002
Format: CD, Album, Reissue Jan 21, 2013
Country: UK
Released: 1983
Genre: Rock
Style: Symphonic Rock, Prog Rock
TRACKS
01. The Last Human Gateway 20:20
02. Through The Corridors (Oh! Shit Me) 2:38
03. Awake And Nervous 7:57
04. My Baby Treats Me Right 'Cos I'm A Hard Lovin' Man All Night Long 1:51
05. The Enemy Smacks 14:06
BONUS TRACKS
06. Wintertell (2012 Recording) 3:06
07. The Last Human Gateway (End Section, Alternative Vocals) 2:48
08. Just Changing Hands (Unfinished Demo) 5:38
09. Dans Le Parc Du Château Noir (Unfinished Demo) 6:45
LINE - UP
Bass – Tim Esau
Drums – Paul Cook
Guitar – Michael Holmes
Keyboards – Martin Orford
Voice – Peter Nicholls
NOTES
Originally released: September 15, 1983
30th Anniversary Collector's Edition.
Flac Size: 423 MB
IQ - THE WAKE 1985 (25th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION 2010)
When considering the "strict" period of neo-prog (i.e., the 1980s), The Wake is definitely a classic. Together with Marillion's first LPs, it helped define what neo-progressive was and generated dozens of sound-alike albums by as many bands in the U.K. and worldwide. The emotion and grandeur are there, and all these elements, together with years of experience as musicians, would later coalesce for the
recording of Subterranea. Since its release in 1985, The Wake has been reissued in various forms and with varying bonus tracks. The last commonly found edition is on Giant Electric Pea (a label managed by IQ's Martin Orford); to the seven original tracks this release adds the B-side "Dans le Parc du Chateau Noir" (also available on J'Ai Pollette D'Arnu). IQ gets very close to Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, mostly thanks to Peter Nicholls' theatrical and emotional vocals.
(By François Couture)
IQ – The Wake 1985 (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) 2010
Label: Giant Electric Pea – GEPBOX2
Format: 3 x CD, Album, Box Set, Deluxe Edition 2010
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
CD1. 2010 REMASTER
01. Outer Limits 8:13
02. The Wake 4:11
03. The Magic Roundabout 8:20
04. Corners (Tabla [Tablas] – Harun) 6:21
05. Widow's Peak 9:13
06. The Thousand Days 5:12
07. Headlong 7:33
BONUS TRACKS
08. Dans Le Parc Du Chateau Noir 7:40
09. The Thousand Days (Demo) 3:57
10. The Magic Roundabout (Demo) 6:27
Flac Size: 434 MB
CD2. BONUS TRACKS
01. Outer Limits (Work In Progress Demo) 3:49
02. Outer Limits (Demo) 7:50
03. Outer Limits (Vocal Outtakes) 6:25
04. The Wake (Vocal Outtake) 1:02
05. The Wake (Rough Mix) 4:15
06. The Magic Roundabout (Writing Session) 5:48
07. The Magic Roundabout (Demo) 6:13
08. The Magic Roundabout (Vocal Outtakes) 4:43
09. The Magic Roundabout (Rough Mix) 6:24
10. Corners (Demo) 6:01
11. Corners (Vocal Outtake) 3:39
12. Corners (7" Single Remix) 4:06
Flac Size: 406 MB
CD3. BONUS TRACKS
01. Widow's Peak (First Live Performance) 5:46
02. Widow's Peak (BBC Friday Rock Show Session) 8:51
03. Widow's Peak (Vocal Outtakes) 3:23
04. Widow's Peak (Alternative Mix) 9:14
05. The Thousand Days (Writing Session) 5:11
06. The Thousand Days (Demo, Early Take) 3:58
07. The Thousand Days (Rough Mix) 3:58
08. Headlong (Work In Progress Demo) 3:45
09. Headlong (First Complete Run-Through) 6:37
10. Headlong (Vocal Outtake) 2:25
11. Headlong (Vocal Outtake) 1:54
12. Headlong (Rough Mix) 6:34
Flac Size: 405 MB
LINE - UP
Bass [Music Man, Fender Jazz And Fender Fretless Basses], Pedalboard [Bass Pedals] – Tim Esau
Drums, Percussion – Paul Cook
Guitar [Gibson Firebrand, Fender Stratocaster, Coral Sitar Guitar], Acoustic Guitar [Ibanez Acoustic Guitar] – Mike Holmes
Synthesizer [Emulator II, DX7, Oberheim Expander, Memory Moog, CS 80, Arp Odyssey], Organ [Roland VK1], Mellotron, Synth [Logan String Synth], Flute, Backing Vocals – Martin Orford
Voice, Tambourine – Peter Nicholls
Written-By, Arranged By – IQ
NOTES
Originally released on Sahara Records vinyl & cassette in 1985.
"Dans Le Parc Du Chateau Noir" and demos recorded at Cava Studios, Glasgow, August 27 - September 2. 1984.
Originally released in June 1985 on the Sahara Records (2) label.
Tracks CD1-1 to CD1-7: recorded and mixed at Falconer Studios, London, March - April 1984.
IQ - SUBTERRANEA 1997
Released in September 1997, Subterranea was quickly hailed by most progressive rock critics as a masterpiece and became one of the very few "classic" albums this style brought forth in 1990s. The two-CD, 103-minute concept album is indeed IQ's strongest effort and would even eclipse The Wake, if it weren't for the historical significance of the 1985 LP. An obscure story of subterranean beings, life-
and-death chase, and initiatory quest packed with metaphorical implications, Subterranea, as a concept, is typical Peter Nicholls; all lyrics remain vague, only suggesting emotions and bits of plot, but to phenomenal results. The easy comparison would be Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and, yes, there is something of that in here, but the meaning of this album is even more cryptic. Subterranea is IQ's biggest musical accomplishment and will get under the skin of any prog fan.
(By François Couture)
IQ – Subterranea
Label:Giant Electric Pea – GEPCD 1021
Format:2 x CD, Album
Country:UK
Released:1997
Genre:Rock
Style:Prog Rock
CD 1.
01. Overture 4:38
02. Provider 1:36
03. Subterranea 5:53
04. Sleepless Incidental 6:23
05. Failsafe 8:57
06. Speak My Name 3:35
07. Tunnel Vision 7:24
08. Infernal Chorus 5:10
09. King Of Fools 2:02
10. The Sense In Sanity 4:48
11. State Of Mine 1:59
Flac Size: 338 MB
CD 2.
01. Laid Low 1:29
02. Breathtaker 6:04
03. Capricorn 5:16
04. The Other Side 2:22
05. Unsolid Ground 5:04
06. Somewhere In Time 7:11
07. High Waters 2:43
08. The Narrow Margin 20:00
Flac Size: 336 MB
LINE - UP
Bass, Backing Vocals – John Jowitt
Drums, Percussion – Paul Cook
Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer – Mike Holmes
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Martin Orford
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Peter Nicholls
Lyrics By – Peter Nicholls
Musician [Guest Musician], Saxophone – Tony Wright
I don't know. Can you please include the band in the package ? THANKS
ReplyDeleteYou will make your list.
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I didn't know that you wanted to record cds for several people. I'll make it easy for you. Thanks, it's not necessary.
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DeleteA very good new prog band is AIRBAG from NORWAY. I haven't known them for very long.
ReplyDeleteI have the first 2, 3+4 will be ordered soon. I think they are all very good.
What A great band! You posted their best albums! Brilliant Blog Mr. Kostas. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove this band. I bought their album "Frequency" many years back, and became a fan.
ReplyDeleteI also have their live DVD "Ever Live", which is a great watch too.