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IQ - Forever Live CD (album) cover

FOREVER LIVE

IQ

 

Neo-Prog

3.92 | 113 ratings

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Rivertree
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions
4 stars IQ Test in the Darkest Hour ...

This concert from 1993 offers a very good presentation of the band and the sound quality is excellent. The two discs are ensuring a solid overview. They consist of many important tracks from the albums IQ had released up to this year. The unique point of the band is the very individual voice from Pete Nicholls. John Jowitt plays his bass with the necessary pressure and the keyboards are very retro.

The gig starts with some ambient soundscapes and then we are gliding into the first classic IQ song after a minute. For some moments you can hear how enthusiastic the crowd is. Remarkable for CD 1 is the song Out of Nowhere from the former release 'Ever' with Nicholls back in the line-up. This track differs from the others with an interesting staccato rhythm. The highlight is Fading Senses - a wonderful ballad. Nostalgia is decreasing on the other hand.

Second CD contains some of my favourite songs - for example Leap of Faith with very impressive guitar playing by Mike Holmes. And of course the complex long track The Enemy Smacks - excellently performed. No love lost from their disappointing commercial orientated album 'Nomzamo' is quite good but not exciting.

The only weak point for me is that studio and live versions are not barely differing as far as I can hear. Some songs are even played shorter. And that's what I'm not exactly expecting from a live concert. Never mind - in any case this release is an excellent introduction to IQ!

Rivertree | 4/5 |

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