THE LENS: Regeneration (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

By the end of 2001, Mike Holmes and Martin Orford of IQ had resurrected The Lens, their first band. By re-recording the instrumental music from the band's only self-produced tape, "No TV Tonite", and adding a few new compositions, with the help of Paul Cook on drums, the two men had given us one of the best surprises of the year. A music that was at the same time progressive and hovering that announced what IQ was going to be (a theme even reappeared in a song from "The Wake") while revealing the influence of bands such as Ash Ra Tempel or Hawkwind.

Despite Martin Orford's departure, Michael Holmes decided to produce a new album under this name, making the music evolve according to his eclectic tastes, to say the least. Holmes has long been a fan of techno, trance, house music, ambient and other related genres. Does this mean that "Regeneration" is an album of techno or electro music? Certainly not, but there are some elements here and there, and the album often turns out to be quite different from its predecessor, which isn't surprising when you think that the music is this time entirely by Mike Holmes and does not date from 30 years ago!

Nothing shocking on the first two tracks: the magnificent "Choosing A Farmer - Part IV" in the opening, evokes the best Pink Floyd of the 70s with a slow space flight, dominated by synthesizers with vaporous and abstract timbres, a resplendent Hammond organ, a guitar played glissando with, in the intro, astronaut dialogues. The track is illuminated by a suave and emotional saxophone part by Tony Wright, while the original drummer, Niall Hayden, holds the sticks. On the fast and complex "... To The Power Of Five", we're still in a progressive rock with hovering synth tones and Steve Hackett's bright guitar parts, supported by Paul Cook's thorough drumming.

In fact, Mike Holmes is The Lens all by himself. Only helped by Paul Cook on drums, and apart from the two contributions mentioned above, Holmes is even sometimes alone, as on the aptly named "Sequential" which indeed reminds a bit of Ash Ra Tempel in the 70s, with its superimposed sequences and its hovering guitar. It's also the case on "Twenty-Eight", a short atmospheric piece based on synths worthy of the cosmic frescos of the 70s.

It's especially on the long "Dreams" that The Lens astonishes, using rhythmic loops mixed with real drums and quite heavy guitars, grandiose mellotron choirs in addition to futuristic synths, plus a few vocals (a word or two here and there) whispered with a suave voice. A completely atmospheric central section cuts the track in half. We can speak here of a fusion between house music and progressive rock! The other long track "Full Of Stars" (a reference to "2001"), the most complex of the album, also integrates elements of electronic music while taking the spirit and the sound of the best IQ, either atmospheric, fast and catchy or slow and powerful, with guitar and keyboard solos.

The last two tracks are more relaxed: "A Little Robot Juice" is based on ethereal textured synths and a melodic fretless bass, before a discreet guitar is finally added. A track a bit in the spirit of some of Patrick O'Hearn's compositions. And the long finale, "Slowdown", has a small post-rock side, a minimalist music with a simple and melancholic melody whose slow progression still reaches a moving climax.

The only regret would be that Mike Holmes doesn't offer us more of these lyrical guitar solos of which he has the secret. But our man loves keyboards and looking for new textures. Finally, "Regeneration" is an original and varied album, which avoids the pitfalls of the genres he draws his inspiration from, namely the predictability and the repetitive aspect. An album aimed at open minds, which reveals itself to be more and more endearing as you listen to it. - Official website

THE LENS

REGENERATION

GIANT ELECTRIC PEA

PROGRESSIVE ROCK