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"With its subtile neo progressive rock, Subterranea is one of the best work of IQ."
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4/5
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Subterranea is supposed to be the major work of IQ. And all means have been used to achieve this. IQ offers us more than an hour and a half of music on a double CD based on a complete story. This concept album tells the story of a character who does not belong to our world. He has no name and is held prisoner by an entity known as a "Provider" that meets all his needs. Everything accelerates when he is sent into reality where he will discover and learn what life is like with the good and the bad sides. Interest and quantity are therefore present, but is quality?
A first point should be underlined for lovers of sought-after texts. If the summary may seem appealing, it should be noted that at IQ, ideas and actions are not transcribed with simple words but rather by metaphors or sentences whose meaning is often beyond comprehension. We are therefore far from a "Scenes From A Memory" for the clarity of the subject.
With such a duration and progressive movement, the music of "Subterranea" is incredibly rich. Two instruments are the main focus. Against all odds, we find the bass, which plays an essential role in all constructions, and much more naturally, the keyboard. The latter is omnipresent, in the soli and background. Its use is pushed to the extreme with the many parts where it is doubled, the synthetic chords mixing with the piano. With this choice, it is not surprising that the guitar often finds itself in the background.
This highlights a second point coming from the genre in which IQ is located. This intense use of keyboards immediately leads them to be labelled neo-progressive. However, unlike many bands that sounds pompous, IQ plays the card of finesse. Even if we are far from the refined aspect of a Gordian Knot, a certain intimate side is maintained by a precise production.
In terms of atmosphere, no surprises. IQ is a group that knows how to transcribe emotions very well. All the musical means at their disposal are used: changes of tonality to move from freedom to doubt, soft and light sounds to represent peace and happiness, heavy and/or syncopated constructions for the tragic, etc. Peter Nicholls' rather particular voice lends itself to the use of instruments to support each atmosphere. It may surprise at first glance but it quickly integrates into the style.
It is obvious that "Subterranea" contains a lot of good things. The mastery appears more at the level of compositions than at the level of instruments. Some will reproach it for its length and consider that it could have fit on a simple CD. Others will find it too short. But it is certain that the reproaches will remain peccadilloes compared to the contribution in sensations that it will be able to provide you. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Overture
02. Provider
03. Subterranea
04. Sleepless Incidental
05. Failsafe
06. Speak My Name
07. Tunnel Vision
08. Infernal Chorus
09. King Of Fools
10. The Sense In Sanity
11. State Of Mine
12. Laid Low
13. Breathtaker
14. Capricorn
15. The Other Side
16. Unsolid Ground
17. Somewhere In Time
18. High Waters
19. The Narrow Margin
LINEUP:
John Jowitt: Basse
Martin Orford: Claviers
Mike Holmes: Guitares
Paul Cook: Batterie
Peter Nicholls: Chant
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.3/5 (21 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.9/5 (12 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH IQ
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