Frequency by IQ, released in 2009
The origins of IQ go back to a previous band, The Lens, after whose breakup Holmes and Orford formed IQ.
The original lineup included Peter Nicholls on vocals, Paul Cook on drums, and Tim Esau on bass, with a sound inspired by the symphonic rock of the early '70s. Their first albums Tales from the Lush Attic (1983) and The Wake (1985) are now classics, seminal albums of the neo-prog genre.
Peter Nicholls left the band in 1985 and Paul Menel took his place. The Menel era began with Nomzamo (1987) and Are You Sitting Comfortably? (1989), with a more pop and commercial sound.
Nicholls returned in 1993 for the album Ever and with him progressive rock also returned, which from that moment continued to release highly successful albums, including the double concept album Subterranea (1997) and Dark Matter (2004). They recently released Dominion, in March 2025
Frequency is the first album without the keyboards of Martin Orford, co-founder of the band, but his replacement Mark Westworth does a great job on Hammond and synth, with great technique and great sounds.
This album is dominated by dreamy atmospheres and pure, top-level progressive rock. In prog it doesn't introduce innovation but respects the canons and sound perfectly, and even if it's a genre that perhaps no longer belongs to our time, it remains an immortal genre and, for me, current. I listen to it continuously and I have no intention of stopping my search for prog in music, old and new.
That said, which is more a response to criticisms I've read around than a spontaneous consideration, let's talk about the music contained in this album and therefore immediately about the excellent keyboard work by Mark Westworth and the powerful guitar solos by Mike Holmes, together with the great voice of Peter Nicholls.
The sound is characterized by long compositions, complex arrangements, and a generally evocative atmosphere with dark melodic synth and keyboard solos.
The theme of the album centers on "hackers" who illegally exploit satellites, a theme that is also represented in the cover images.
The tracks I appreciated the most are the title track, Frequency, an imposing and epic track with great melodies, but also Stronger Than Friction, a long and complex song, The Province, an epic track of about 14 minutes which is also one of the TOP tracks of the album, also beautiful is One Fatal Mistake, a very powerful song, and finally Ryker Skies with captivating instrumental and atmospheric moments.
An absolutely recommended album!!!
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page
Tracklist
1. Frequency (8:29)
2. Life Support (6:28)
3. Stronger Than Friction (10:32)
4. One Fatal Mistake (4:54)
5. Ryker Skies (9:45)
6. The Province (13:43)
7. Closer (8:11)
Duration 62:02
LineUp
- Peter Nicholls - lead vocals and backing vocals
- Mike Holmes - guitars, keyboards, producer
- Mark Westworth - keyboards
- John Jowitt - bass
- Andy Edwards - drums, percussion
