IQ & Cardiacs from two albums of the late 80s

I was going to do this as albums, but instead I'm focusing on the longest tracks from the final two studio albums of the 80s from Cardiacs and IQ and setting up this as a "duel of duos".

I've done various blank vs. Cardiacs, and in this case these two IQ tracks are from two of the lowest average rated IQ albums, but those IQ albums have considerably more ratings than the Cardiacs albums in PA at least. So while more people who like IQ and rate/review are likely to disfavour these two IQ albums, and among Cardiacs fans these two albums are generally well-regarded (not as well-known as Sing to God), Cardiacs generally do not get as much attention in the PA database and it may be that most here would still prefer these IQ albums to the Cardiacs ones (Cardiacs has seemed more more niche than IQ in PA, but the reverse is true in other places, just as avant prog seems more niche than Neo-Prog commonly at PA -- though I think Cardiacs has much in common with plenty of Neo-Prog). Also I know some consider Cardiacs to have nothing to do with progressive music or to be complex or challenging enough to satisfy, and I'd say all four albums have pop-rock qualities.

In PA, Cardiacs' A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window has 278 ratings with 23 reviews. Cardiacs' On Land and in the Sea has 142 ratings with 11 reviews.

IN PA IQ's Nomzano has 362 ratings with 29 reviews. IQ's Are You Sitting Comfortably ? has 337 ratings with 20 reviews.

Interestingly, at Rate Your Music, the Cardiacs albums have many more ratings than the IQ ones.

At RYM, A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window has 2,385 ratings and 53 reviews. On Land and in the Sea has 1,271 ratings and 35 reviews.

At RYM, Nomzano has 298 ratings and 18 reviews. Are You Sitting Comfortably ? has 247 ratings and 13 reviews.

An interesting difference -- of course PA seems to be significantly symphonic prog (and melodic rock) driven, whereas at RYM things such as Krautrock and more experimental music seems to be more respected than here amongst many of those into Prog umbrella music. RYM seems more hipster as one put it. RYM seems to represent my tastes in progressive music and related more than PA generally, and I refer to their charts more.

Instead of doing the albums, I'll do the longest tracks from all four of the studio albums since many won't be familiar with the four albums. Also, I think the IQ songs are well-regarded ones from those albums -- I like Human Nature (an album is more then the sum of its parts, one might say however). So its not about the albums on the whole, just these tracks.

"The Whole World Window" (off A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window)



"The Everso Closely Guarded Line" (off On Land and in the Sea)



"Human Nature" (off Nomzamo)



"Wurensh" (off Are You Sitting Comfortably?)



I doubt many will be familiar with all four tracks, and being long ones, I doubt many will take the time to check out the music they don't know (or remember well), so I don't expect much response. I don't think of this as a contest, and the fun is in the making and comparing for me.

IQ is a neoprog band (if I'm informed correctly about what that is) who have a lot of material I like, including those actually (more so Human Nature). They don't have the genius of the Cardiacs though. (Also IQ have about the worst band name I have come across, only contested by Death and the like, and probably not even beaten by those.)

Cardiacs get my vote.

Went with the Cardiacs

Human Nature & Wurensh

IQ were the new everything for a while , even being compared to Dire Straits at one point lol.

IQ

Rick1 wrote: Blimey, IQ had peaked by the mid-80s whereas Cardiacs went from strength to strength.

essexboyinwales wrote: I’ll try listening to these Cardiacs tracks - I’m in bed with Covid!😑