IQ: Frequency (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Stabilized in its line-up since the release of Ever (in 1993), and in its music since its debut (nearly 25 years), except for the Paul Menel / Nomzamo / Are you Sitting Comfortably parenthesis, IQ has experienced some turbulences. Two of its eminent founders decided to leave the ship after the exit of the excellent Dark Matter. First of all, Paul Cook to satisfy his passion for fishing. And more recently, Martin Orford, tired of the music business and the piracy.

IQ still overcame these challenges, finding two quality substitutes. Andy Edwards first of all behind the drums and then Mark Westworth who has some famous references in the small world of the neo-progressive such as Grey Lady Dawn or Darwin's Radio. The presentations having been completed, it now remains to focus on the essential, namely the music that composes this Frequency, an album that took almost 2 years to be finalized, and of which some tracks have been widely used on stage during this period.

The album opens with Frequency and its first two recognizable minor chords between a thousand. The rhythmic is well in place, and Peter Nicholls' first intervention finishes setting the scene. Despite the changes in personnel, we are on marked ground, an impression confirmed in the rest of the title with the rhythm section which includes the syncopated elements characteristic of the band.

The magnificent "Life Support" will confirm the trend. First of all, it seems to have come out of Subterranea's sessions, but the song will take off in an energetic instrumental part, led by the newcomers: the keyboard sounds become a little more aggressive, and above all Andy Edwards unleashes behind his drums, quickly making you forget the sober Paul Cook, and highlighting a more than obvious complicity with John Jowitt and his bass in fusion.

The sequence of the next three tracks offers us an almost 25-minute sequence, a real summary of the group's career. The rhythm section continues its festival, while Mike Holmes offers with some magnificent soli (Stronger Than Friction), and Peter Nicholls, once often criticized (wrongly?) comes out of it frankly well, avoiding the monotony sometimes attached to his monotonous timbre.

So far, we have seen it, there are few surprises to expect from this album except the incomparable pleasure of finding this band rarely imitated, never equalled. It is with "The Province" that a significant evolution will nevertheless see the light of day. After a very Genesis beginning, the song get excited under the impulse of the drummer dragging the whole group into Dantean instrumental passages, with a lot of drum rolls combined with thrilling rhythmic ruptures. The title will thus unfold its different themes throughout its 13 minutes, for a progressive result of the highest order, with an intensity rarely heard in the band's discography. And to breathe easier after this deluge, IQ will have the good idea to finish this album with the very relaxing Closer which, like a final theme music, will gently take us towards the conclusion of the musical adventure started one hour earlier.

With this new album, IQ offers us the best it has been able to do since its creation. The band will once again delight its fans while fundamentalists will cry out for a lack of originality. So what? Why change a recipe that works? And as this band has the good taste not to overwhelm us with annual releases, let's taste the present moment and savour this splendid album which gains in intensity with each new listening. - Official website

IQ

FREQUENCY

INSIDEOUT MUSIC

PROGRESSIVE ROCK