NOMZAMO

Okay, this one is not really a must-have and most certainly does not rank among their best. But it really has its moments and as an album it is far better than their next one "Are you sitting comfortably"? It starts off with 'No love lost', a simple straightforward song where Menel's rather high-pitched voice suits well. It's not good, it's not bad, it's enjoyable. 'Promises' was a small hit in The Netherlands although it hardly hit the charts. I saw the video clip once or twice on Dutch tv and was delighted. Actually I like this song a lot for its melody and rhythm. But it was also one of those songs that was live a a disaster. Menel was never able to reach those characteristic high notes but tried it anyway, singing as false as a aged carrion crow. It must have been hard for the other members to experience that. Nomzamo is one of the highlights of the album, another simple but very effective song dealing with Nelson Mandela's wife. 'Passing strangers' and 'Screaming' are songs of which you wished that IQ had never recorded them because they never meet the standard they applied with Pete Nicholls as singer. But the rest of the songs are actually quite good (Still life, Human nature) to very good (Common ground). IQ hardly performs these songs but those they should not be ashamed of. There was worse to come....