IQ - review added 12th June 2009
Album Review: Frequency (2009)
For fans of: Prog Rock... and that typical prog excess
IQ are something of an institution nowadays. They've been on the go for just under 30 years which is pretty remarkable, although any prog band that doesn't last for at least 50 years isn't really worth its salt.
Frequency is IQ's 10th studio album and the follow-up to 2004's Dark Matter. It sees the addition of two new members to the group: Paul Cook on drums and Mark Westworth on keyboards. Completing the line-up are long termers Mike Holmes on guitar, Peter Nicholls on lead vocals and John Jowitt on bass.
The sound is reasonably straight forward prog rock, if you could ever refer to prog rock as straight forward. There's a lot of meandering keyboard work and vocal flights of fancy. The music gets vaguely heavy in places, but it's never going to burst a speaker. The lyrics could have been written by Ronnie James Dio on speed. There's lots of talking in tongues about fantastical codswallop - but isn't that what you want from this sort of thing? If it was about something sensible and serious it simply wouldn't be the same.
The album opens with the title track, a melodious lightweight song with a sweet-sounding narrative and abundant keyboards - in fact the keys really dominate proceedings. It's a nice, inoffensive track but it does pass by without a great deal of fanfare. 'Life Support' has a touch more body to it as it works its way through, but still comes across more as flowery than weaponry. It should be noted that Peter Nicholls has a lovely relaxed voice. He gives the impression he'd be great at singing lullabies.
'Stronger Than Friction', presumably a take on the phrase 'stranger than fiction', alternates between bursts of energy and moments of quiet reflection. It never heads anywhere though, instead remaining in a loop of forgetfulness. The following track 'One Fatal Mistake' treads an identical path. 'Ryker Skies' is much more like it. Okay, it borrows heavily from Pink Floyd but at least it has character.
'The Province' is another song that alternates styles, but some of them are invigorating to the point of amazement. Parts of this 13 minute epic are actually verging on heavy metal. Mike Holmes' guitar work stands out like a shining beacon; if only he'd done more shredding the album would have been a lot more enjoyable. The final track 'Closer' closes the album in mellow style, which comes as no great surprise.
Frequency is a lovely sounding album and, if you like the band or this specific style of music, I'm sure you'll adore this release. For me, however, it veers too much toward humdrum background music. This isn't something I'd actively to listen to, hanging on every word or timing change. It contains little in the way of passion and not a lot of material that's going to build any measure of excitement. As a technical exercise it's great, but being impressed ain't enough I'm afraid.
Check out... The flowery nature of it all.
Track List:
1. Frequency
2. Life Support
3. Stronger Than Friction
4. One Fatal Mistake
5. Ryker Skies
6. The Province Of The King
7. Closer
Label: Inside/Out
Artist's websites: IQ , MySpace
