DARK MATTER

Sacred Sound kicks off the album in fine, if traditonal, IQ form. At just under 12 minutes it sets you up nicely for what is to come and contains some of Martin Orford's most beautiful keyboard playing - the church/cathedral organ sound is superb. Nicholl's voice sounds as good as ever (or 'ever'!) and Mike Holmes guitar playing is his usual excellent standard. If this isn't a gig opener, I am a wet lettuce.

Red Dust Shadow seems a slight departure for the band, although some of the music could fit into Subterranea. A standout track from last year's Progeny gig, this is highely emotive with Nicholls vocals and lyrics at their most effective. A beautiful subdued melancholy acoustic guitar is joined by a lovely mellotron hum and Nicholl's heartbreaking vocals start. If his singing of 'no, no where did my daddy go' doesn't get to you, you have no soul. 6 minutes of beauty and emotion. This is a classic.

You Never Will is the most immediate track on the album, starting with a tick tocking watch and a memorable Jowitt bass riff (a much undersung player, Jowitt throws away bass runs other people use for 3 or four albums). With a virtually singalong chorus, this is destined to be a live favourite.

Born Brilliant starts with touches of Pink Floyd (think Empty Spaces from the Wall) and leads into a song seemingly full of self loathing in the first person from Nicholls (Who is this about? Answers on a postcard, please). Using all the normal IQ time signature change tricks (How does Cooky on drums keep up with this on virtually every track? God knows, but he does it in superb style), but with perhaps a more lighthanded feel than has previously been the case. On the whole, definitely a bit out of the ordinary for IQ, but none the worse for it.

Harvest Of Souls is the epic that all IQ fans have been waiting to hear since the rumours started to surface. 24 and a half minutes in length, this has some superb moments in it. A quick synopsis:

The virtually acoustic First Of The Last (Homes's playing is beautiful and light here), with Nicholls voice at its most fragile, gently leading (over the first 5 minutes or so) into:

The second part of the epic The Wrong Host, which will undoubtedly get some comments from the bands US fans, being very critical of the US's foreign policy - many of us will undoubtedly agree with Peter's sentiments here. This part of the track is underpinned by a simple but effective Orford keyboard piece, which gives way to a simple marching theme with Nicholls chilling lyrics played out on top: "Hide where you can, we will shoot you where you stand". Leading into staccato gun shoots bass and drums, and a more typical (ala Subterranea) up tempo IQ style. A tempo change to:

Nocturne, again some Subterranea like music here, great guitar again from Holmes, effective simple piano from Orford and some sublime melody from Nicholls. Gorgeous.

Straight into Frame And Form which couldn't be more different: the band let lose with some great ensemble playing and some highley unnerving sound effects mixed into the background, leading to another sparse sounding 'song', ending with Orford's classical style piano runs into:

Mortal Procession and back into typical IQ territory with beautiful keyboard and guitar lines. Part of the lyrics seem to be directed against the US dream of the perfect Hollywood body and face "And beauty born is strictly for the birds". This part of the track builds superbly; we are heading towards the climax.

Ghosts Of Days, a beautiful track to reconcile the previous 20 odd minutes - again Holmes throws out wonderful guitar lines against a soaring Orford mellotron backing. Fade out and let's play the whole thing again!

There is obviously far more to get from Harvest Of Souls and many more plays will, I'm sure, glean more detail and highlights.

Overall, this is probably the best album IQ have ever released, although I'm positive the arguments on this could go on for days. It may not be a masterpiece, but there is no doubt that it is essential.

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