I got to be honest...I had never heard of
IQ until I got this promo in the post. Pleasantly surprised?
Oh yes! Very much so!
Being at the pinnacle of the the Prog Rock revival that is happening I was glad to have gotten this album to hear and review.
IQ it turns out have been at this quite some time. Struggling for years to break free of Genesis and
Marillion comparisons, the band have etched out their own course that is somewhat miles ahead anything Genesis has put out in years and
Marillion? Last I heard from
Marillion was whatever pop hit they had years ago and I wasn't impressed by them then.
So
IQ have stirred quietly outside of what passes for success in prog rock for nearly 20 years and 8 studio albums.
The time is right and the album is primed for these guys to claim and keep a stake in the vastly uncharted and mysterious land of Progressive Rock.
Dark Matter?
Yes indeed. Beautiful dark! The kind of dark that connects with all of us. The darkness of pain from loss and regret. The darkness of longing for and never getting. The darkness that is born within each of us and never will leave until we skirt the Heavens with the spirit inside of us freed from these mortal clothes. A darkness not devoid of hope but a darkness that sees the struggle of life, love, and heartache as all too real.
For it is in darkness that light can be seen and moved toward. It is in darkness that we search for light. The light turned on, the darkness dispelled. Yet knowing the darkness, though it hides in corners and under things, existing in shadows, is always there waiting for the light to fail or fade.
That is the duality we all live with...we all are mixtures of light and dark.
We desire to do good but often fail, we desire to feel but are afraid of the loss and vulnerability required to truly feel.
This album captures those feelings in the lyrics, the music, the instrumentation, and the timbre of the vocals and finally in the full, beautifully warm production.
Progressive Rock enslaved to the holy grail of songwriting ability! That's what this is. Not so flashy in moments of jams and solos to boggle the mind for a fleeting moment. No, this serves the grander purpose of touching the emotions and pricking the heart to feel again. To know we are not alone but connected by something we all share...every single one of us...emotion.
I will do
IQ no disservice by comparing them to any other band...that is not needed. They stand apart indeed and are surely influenced by other bands, as all bands are. It is not the influences that need to be noticed. It is merely to put this album on a cd deck, with time to spare, and listen...not to worry that they may not be the same as any great prog rock group gone before or now in existence that you may have heard and loved. They are unto themselves and remain so even though they play the same guitars, keyboards, bass, drums and sing through the same mics as thousands have done and will do.
Take them for what they are and you will be in bliss...a magnificent group of songwriters and musicians humbly bowing in respect to the muse of music...the sacred sound!
Written by
David Wednesday, July 28, 2004
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