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The Wake, a beautiful 1985 album by IQ.
Long considered their masterpiece, it's a seminal album for the band and neo-prog in general.
The title track, in particular, is packed with energy, emotive melodies, and a perfect balance between guitars, keyboards, and punchy rhythms—a concentration of energy and passion, with a melodic opening that delivers a powerful emotional impact.
The Wake is also characterized by excellent performance; the opening track, "Outer Limits," is spectacular, as is "The Magic Roundabout," with its many variations.
"Headlong," which shifts from a melancholy opening to a pressing and compelling piece with a powerful finale.
My favorite track is the longest, "Widow's Peak," a beautiful, tense, and passionate sound that rivals even songs from the '70s in beauty and complexity.
An album that is one of the neoprog classics of the '80s, and like other bands of the era, the influences of Genesis were even more evident in those years.
The excellent use of the Mellotron, Peter Nicholls' powerful voice, a sound more akin to that of '70s prog, performed by a very talented band, make this an album that represents the early days of IQ. Great albums would follow, starting with Ever with 2014's The Road of Bones, which is, in my opinion, their finest. And considering that it came out 29 years after
The Wake, it's more evident than ever not only how long-lived this band is, but also how capable of renewal and quality they are.
It's a must-listen for all progressive music fans looking for an album with a strong identity and emotional impact.
Highly recommended!
Tracks
1. Outer Limits (8:15)
2. The Wake (4:11)
3. The Magic Roundabout (8:18)
4. Corners (6:20)
5. Widow's Peak (9:12)
6. The Thousand Days (5:12)
7. Headlong (7:25)
Running Time: 48:53
Line-Up
- Peter Nicholls - vocals, tambourine
- Mike Holmes - sitar, electric and acoustic guitar, co-producer
- Martin Orford - Roland VK-1 organ, Mellotron, synthesizers (Logan String, Oberheim SEM, Yamaha CS-80 and DX7, ARP Odyssey, Memorymoog), E-mu sampler, flute, backing vocals
- Tim Esau - fretted and fretless basses, bass pedals, co-producer
- Paul Cook - drums, percussion
Featuring:
- Harun Coombes - tabla (4), sound engineer
