THE WAKE

IQ

Neo-Prog

3.78 | 672 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

How ironic that the engineer of this terrible sounding album is given special credit alongside the musicians! A little too

1. "Outer Limits" (8:15) for the first half of this song it's very 80s New Wave sounding, but when electric guitar starts its seering leads and the bass pedals kick in in the fifth minute, it becomes real prog. (16/20)

2. "The Wake" (4:11) a horrible vocal to not match the tenuous music. Weird. Nice guitar solo. (7.5/10)

3. "The Magic Roundabout" (8:18) Really? Did we really have to choose this title? And then try a "Watcher in the Skies"-like extended intro? I must admit, I rather love the tone of the lead guitar. (Kind of Flock of Seagulls-like.) Horrible vocal. What's happened to Peter Nicholls? (15/20)

4. "Corners" (6:20) "Man on the Corner"? Better vocal. (7.5/10)

5. "Widow's Peak" (9:12) nice atmosphere established by the spacious opening. Kicks into gear nicely except I hate the use of a swish cymbal for the four-beat crash hits. Otherwise, this is the best song on the album and Peter Nicholls best performance. Only problem is how totally GENESIS this sounds. (17.5/20)

6. "The Thousand Days" (5:12) another song that sounds so much like the 80s?and especially 80s GENESIS. Nice work with the keys for the final 90 seconds. (8/10)

7. "Headlong" (7:25) Opens with a gentle harpsichord-like guitar and keys with a nice, touching vocal. In the third minute, after Peter's first verse is finished, a thick bass and drums rise from below for an instrumental section. Then everything drops away for a return of the sentimental vocal's second verse. Unfortunately, there's nothing very new or fresh here. (12/15)

Total time 48:53

Bonus "Dans le parc du chateau noir" (7:37) Peter's first real attempt at a serious Peter Gabriel impersonation (with a little Hammill-ishness thrown in there for good measure). Sounds SO MUCH like 1978 BABYLON album. Nice drumming. Great guitar. My other favorite song on the album. (13.5/15)

In its original state, without the bonus track, I give this album a C+/three stars; with the bonus track at B-/3.5 stars.

BrufordFreak | 3/5 | 2017-3-28

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