NOMZAMO

On this record, there is a new singer named P L Menel: his voice is excellent, even better than Peter Nicholls. The overall sound here is really professionally recorded, for the first time. For the first time too, IQ compose some more pop & accessible tracks; nevertheless, some are still progressive too, like the wonderful "Human Nature". "No Love Lost" is a rather slow catchy & rythmic track. "Promises" is dangerously pop & accessible: I must admit that it is very cute & addictive, with a clean rythmic guitar a la JADIS; Menel sings VERY well on it, quite having highly pitched vocals! The percussive "Nomzamo" is slightly dark. "Still Life" is a beautiful, very floating & sentimental masterpiece, having some excellent fretless bass and romantic saxophone. "Passing Strangers" is a dynamic, rythmic, fresh & catchy track, having an excellent guitar solo. The next track, "Human Nature", is the really progressive & sophisticated one: WOW! This track is definitely a must: VERY rythm changing, catchy & addictive, it is going to make you beat the ground! Everything is excellent on this track! The bass is pretty elaborated and fast, the keyboards are very varied, atmospheric, rythmic and melodic, the guitars are absolutely pleasant and the vocals are delightful: this track is definitely among their best ones! The very pop, dynamic & rythmic "Screaming" will wake you up: just follow the beat, and you will find that it is really well made! The album finishes with a wonderful & poignant track named "Common Ground": excellent fretless bass, insistent & emotional vocals, crystal clean acoustic guitars, unforgettable keyboards parts, it finishes with a poignant & sustained melodic guitar solo: it is the kind of song which must be listened hand in hand, with thousands of candles or Zippos lit!

The main weak point on the album is the repetitive hammer-like drums on some tracks.

Rating: 4.5/5