Band:	IQ
Album:	Frequency
Style:	Progressive rock
Release date:	February 06, 2009
A review by:	Jeff

01. Frequency
02. Life Support
03. Stronger Than Friction
04. One Fatal Misake
05. Ryker Skies
06. The Province
07. Closer

With Marillion, and Pendragon, IQ is one of the leaders of the 2nd wave of British progressive bands (after Pink Floyd, Yes and Genesis, the fathers of the genre which started their career some years before them). Founded in 1982 , IQ never became popular like Marillion but managed to found a real solid fan-base and, above everything else, a really respectful aura. IQ is still active nowadays, and "Frequency" is their last album. As a fan of Progressive Rock and Metal, I recommend this beautiful and tender album. You should have a look at it if you like this kind of music, some songs really deserve all your attention.

There are seven songs on "Frequency", and as you can guess, they're all long in general (from 5 minutes to 14). Three of them at least, (the first three ones actually) are really beautiful and deep. My favorite one is probably "Frequency" with its excellent melancholic and hypnotic line of piano/keyboards but of course like all the other songs on the album, there is a real evolution from the beginning to the end. This is Prog Rock after all, "Frequency" is absolutely not a linear album and all the songs have a progression with different passages: calm, melancholic, atmospheric, etc? On the other hand if the beginning of the album is really catchy, the end is a bit more calm and peaceful. This is really varied with long songs like "The Province" but all in all, this is not so good, complex and Progressive of course but a bit long and boring with time.

When you have to talk about IQ, you cannot talk about some musical deficiency. All the guys are musical maestros, and all know (that's really visible with this band and I like it) how to give emotions through their music. Nobody will have the right to say that IQ performance on "Frequency" is monotonous, this is beautiful with a real spirit; you'll feel it for sure.

"Frequency" is a good release but lacks a bit of energy maybe. Also, there are songs which are better than other ones and if it can be logical on a side, this is a bit surprising to be really attracted at the beginning and start to forget what you're listening to in the end? "Frequency" remains a good album, the fans of classic Progressive Rock like the fans of Ayreon or Porcupine Tree should have a look at it. This is maybe not dark (for a basic lambda metalhead) but melancholic and damnly beautiful. Who know maybe that you'll fall in love with IQ through this release!