IQ - The Wake

IQ are one of these bands, highly rated in the prog-rock world, that I just don't get. "The Wake" has some competently written and played songs, but it all feels grey and clinical. The music is firmly in the style of early Genesis and Marillion, with chiming guitars, shimmering keyboard pads and Moog flourishes, and mellow guitar solos. Peter Nicholls' vaguely Fish-like singing does lack feeling, and doesn't inspire me to get to know the lyrics. The instrumentals are listenable though, if four-square and not varied. One moment of colour is the spangly sitar-like refrain in "Corners". This track has the most infuriating fade out lasting a whole two minutes. It's still a mystery why I like Pendragon and not this lot.

September 19, 2003

4 out of 10

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