Intelligent-Quozient

[nicola]

The first IQ concert


Intelligent Quotient tour 2019


Finally I can attend an IQ concert

I bought the ticket very early.
In promotion for the new double album Resistance released on September 7th, IQ will start for a series of concerts around Europe ... 2 dates for Italy ... one near Rome and one near Milan ...
I would have liked to attend one of their concerts in a structure suited to their value…. And so much bigger and instead they will play in a club where you can dine before the concert ... .. if on the one hand I don't understand the choice ... on the other there is the advantage of having them a few meters away and being able to appreciate them more comfortably seated ... ..
I IQ (before The Lens) I met them with a bit of delay compared to their first albums although I also listen to a lot of music from groups that publish their albums even in very few copies….
I didn't understand at least 3 things about the IQ and I took advantage of this next concert to find information that
They covered the following points ...

1) The cause of the abandonment of Martin Orford co-founder of the IQ
2) The many years between an album and the next
3) Their concerts in micro structures

The first 2 points I clarified them by reading 3 interviews one with Martin Orford, one with Peter Nicholls and one with Mike Holmes


The abandonment of Martin Orford co-founder of IQ

I was curious to understand why martin had abandoned the iq ... and holmes gave me the answer in an interview
Mike holmes is certainly fundamental for iq music as it was orford ... but 2 very similar characters eventually end up colliding and so it was ... Holmes claims that everyone has to present himself to the realization of an album with some realized music (for Resistance that will come out 120 minutes) and then through the meeting from the various loops or short tracks to give birth to the song…. Orford, on the other hand, presented himself with the complete piece and hence the clash that led to the separation.
practically Holmes disassembled the piece he had produced and at the end of the structure that had built Orford little remained and the piece took another form
Holmes, however, is sick of perfectionism and the apparent will to make everyone participate in the realization is only an illusion ... It is he who, after making a song, does not listen to it again for 2 months to see what his reaction to a new listening is and if he needs tweaks… .. he is always the one who inserts pieces of new songs in concerts to see the audience reaction and to understand if that song will be presented in the next album and the list of songs of the new album has been announced a few days ago, but the official length of the songs is not yet known and this is the yet another proof that holmes still has some doubts, we only know that it will be a double album and that in the second disc there are two tracks of about 20 minutes
To confirm the fact that it is difficult to get out of the iq something that holmes does not approve of ... .. in a new song has forced the drummer Paul Cook to try 30 solutions of rhythm for a song ... .. but to Mike Holmes as to Steven Wilson you can forgive similar behavior if as a result they give us excellent progressive music.

From the interview with Martin Orford I also learned why he will never again have personal albums ... ..
Martin Orford never make the mistake of asking him why he doesn't record more personal albums ... You risk being treated badly ... I read his interview where he lists the pounds spent on making his 2 albums and goes into the details of the expenses for the artists who collaborated ... to the expenses for the rehearsals .... to the expenses for the registration and recording of the album ... I expected the total amount to be higher, but Martin had not got what he hoped for from the sale. He lashes out against the Internet and therefore against the digital that allow you to easily listen to and download music and always with a poisoned tone he swears he will never again record a personal album…. Because he does not intend to spend pounds that could be better used for his family.
Sorry that Martin Orford has made this decision because his two albums are very beautiful and he would surely have recorded others of the same level or higher ... we will agree to follow him in JADIS when he decides to be there .... but you have to understand its reasons ... even if times have changed, with vinyl sales were assured ... but since it went digital ... groups or artists have to bet a lot on live shows

Their concerts in micro structures


.... And it is here that I do not understand the IQ that I consider of the same value as the great ones who made the history of the prog. But they do their concerts almost exclusively in clubs with places ranging from 1000 to almost 3000 ... for example in Italy they take place in two clubs that they want to have dinner before the concert ... If one takes into account that my ticket has cost a very low figure of only 25 euros and takes into account the expenses of the Club that hosts them and the costs of the band…. At the end of gain, some ridiculous figures come out…. And I can understand Mike Holmes when in another interview he says that before a live show they try to limit the tests of the lineup because they come to cost £ 600 a day for a single artist ... And here my question remains open ... Because they make few concerts and in small structures when it would be in their possibilities to fill much larger structures and increase profits ... Maybe it will be me, that by putting them at the top of my preferences I overestimate them but for their excellent music I find it hard not to put them on the same level as the big Progressive groups.
This curiosity of mine will somehow be able to remove it or ask them directly through their website or after the concert if they will do as on other occasions by talking to the public.

The many years between an album and the next

I've always wondered why we had to wait so long between one album and the next and I found 2 answers to this question ...
One is that Intelligen Quotient is not the only activity of these artists ... But they have another business activity, they love to live normally and this has allowed them to continue being together for many years .. apart from the incompatibility of character and art between Orford and Holmes
The second is that with the passing of the years Holmes has worsened considerably (as I have already explained in another part of this document) in creating more and more careful songs in the search for perfection being careful also to the fact that they can also be appreciated by the public and this of course is not easy to develop in not long times.


**** One last thing ... if I could have decided on the replacement of Martin Orford ... I would have confirmed Mark Westworth who gave us his contribution in the excellent album Frequency ... having decided to focus on Neil Durant didn't convince me much but I hope that contradicts me in this new album ... another thing that Neil Durant has to take care of is his stage presence (seen in many concerts on youtube) would be fine if he were a member of Tangerine Dream…. Too glacial in the expression that does not reveal any emotion .. I wish him to improve.

It only remains for me to wait for October 11th ......


a few more days and we will discover the new double album
by Intelligent Quotient

Studio Album, released in 2019 07 September

Songs / Tracks Listing
CD 1
1. A Missile
2. Stay Down
3. Rise
4. A Shallow Bay
5. If Anything
6. For Another Lifetime

CD 2
1. The Great Spirit Way
2. Fire and Security
3. Perfect Space
4. Fallout

Line-up / Musicians
- Peter Nicholls / vocals
- Mike Holmes / guitar
- Tim Esau / bass
- Paul Cook / drums
- Neil Durant / keyboards


Some albums in which past and present components of Intelligent Quotient participated

Ark - Wild Untamed Imaginings (2010) John Jowitt / bass
Time Collider - Travel Conspiracy (2018) John Jowitt / bass
Grey Lady Down - Fear (1997) Mark Westworth / keyboards
Grey Lady Down - Star - Crossed (2001) Mark Westworth / keyboards, 12 string, mellotron
DARWIN'S RADIO - Eyes Of The World (2006) Mark Westworth / keyboards, backing vocals
DARWIN'S RADIO - Template For A Generation (2009) Mark Westworth / keyboards
Jadis - Across The Water (1994) Martin Orford
Jadis - Medium Rare II (2019) Martin Orford
Jadis - More Than Meets The Eye (1992) Martin Orford
Jadis - Photoplay (2006) Martin Orford
Jadis - Understand (2000) Martin Orford
Martin Orford - Classical Music And Popular Songs (2000)
Martin Orford - The Old Road (2008)
Niadem's Ghost - In Sheltered Winds (1987) Peter Nicholls / vocals
Sphere3 - Comeuppance (2002) Neil Durant / synthesizers, mellotron
The Lens - A Word In Your Eye (2001) IQ
The Lens - Regeneration (2010) IQ

[nicola]

The analysis of the profile of Mike Holmes that I had guessed turned out to be correct, the lack of the duration of the songs was the confirmation…. And in any case also the mixing is at his charge and from the release
He did still have many problems to solve
But if his mania of perfection will bring us some excellent songs we will forgive all the waiting for the new IQ album

This is the official release of Mke Holmes

2019 07 31
Studio Update from Mike Holmes:



"Final day of mixing Resistance, at least that was the idea! As always it’s taken longer than I thought and I need another further extra final couple of days to get it all sounding just right.

This will inevitably have an impact on the official release date and its looking more likely to be the end of September...

Not ideal I know, and from a GEP/release schedule point of view it’s a bit of a headache, but personally I think it’s more important to get it right.

Having said that we will try our absolute best to have a few pre-release copies of the album for the launch show at the Islington Assembly Hall (hope to see some of you there?)... BUT - this IS the world of IQ and as you know shit does seem to happen on occasion...

Still, almost there!

Mike"

[nicola]

https://www.iq-hq.co.uk/

[nicola]

Biography Intelligent Quotient



With a 35-year history, IQ are widely regarded as one of the world’s most highly respected progressive rock bands.

The group was formed in 1981 by guitarist Mike Holmes and keyboard player Martin Orford. They recruited bassist Tim Esau that year, followed by vocalist Peter Nicholls and drummer Paul Cook in 1982, when they released their first cassette album ‘Seven Stories Into Eight’. Constant gigging throughout the UK led to them becoming a regular fixture at London’s legendary Marquee Club. Their first vinyl album ‘Tales From The Lush Attic’ was released in 1983, with the classic ‘The Wake’ in 1985 and the live set ‘Living Proof’ in 1986.

Tensions within the band, plus a punishing live schedule, resulted in the departure of Peter Nicholls in 1985, at the end of a UK tour with Wishbone Ash. With new singer Paul Menel, the band secured a lucrative record deal with Phonogram and released studio albums ‘Nomzamo’ in 1987 and ‘Are You Sitting Comfortably?’ in 1989. Both albums were promoted by extensive European tours, with Magnum and Mike And The Mechanics.

Dissatisfied with the lack of support from Phonogram, Paul Menel and Tim Esau left IQ in 1990. The remaining members recruited Les 'Ledge' Marshall on bass. That year, Peter Nicholls rejoined the band but tragedy struck when Les died suddenly and unexpectedly in the summer.

The 1991 release of the live and rarities album ‘J'ai Pollette d'Arnu’ was a significant event, being the first release on Giant Electric Pea, a new label founded by members and associates of IQ. This year also saw the arrival of John Jowitt as the band’s new bassist. With a stable line-up once more, IQ resumed live work in the UK, Europe and North America while also writing new songs which would form the basis of ‘Ever’ (1993). The sumptuous live box set ‘Forever Live’ was released in 1996, followed in 1997 by the band’s magnum opus, the monumental double concept album ‘Subterranea’. This was supported by a completely new multi-media live presentation, featuring the album performed in full, which earned the band unanimous acclaim.

In 1998, IQ re-recorded their first cassette album as ‘Seven Stories into ’98’ and released the rarities album ‘The Lost Attic’ in 1999. New studio album ‘The Seventh House’ followed in 2000, and 2002 saw the release of the ‘Subterranea: The Concert’ DVD. The release of 2004’s ‘Dark Matter’ and the ‘IQ20’ 20th Anniversary Concert DVD saw IQ back at the very top of the progressive rock tree. ‘Dark Matter’ was voted Album of the Year in countless music magazines around the world.

In 2005, Paul Cook left IQ after 23 years’ service. He was replaced by Andy Edwards (ex-Robert Plant Band) who features on the 2-DVD live set ‘Stage’, filmed in the USA and Germany that year. Another line-up change followed in 2007 with the departure of Martin Orford after 26 years. The band enlisted Mark Westworth, formerly with Darwin’s Radio, and, after a short autumn tour in 2007, work continued on IQ’s ninth studio album, ‘Frequency’, released in 2009. It was a musical tour de force which received universally positive reviews.

Andy Edwards’ decision to leave the band soon after led to the return of original drummer Paul Cook, and in 2010 IQ marked the 25th anniversary of their seminal album ‘The Wake’ with the release of a deluxe 4-disc collector’s box set featuring a host of previously unheard studio outtakes, demos and live tracks. The accompanying tour resulted in a live DVD of the album performed in its entirety, filmed in Holland. At the end of the year, Mark Westworth and John Jowitt both announced their departures from the group.

2011 was IQ’s 30th anniversary year. With the arrival of keyboard player Neil Durant and the welcome return of bassist Tim Esau, the band were able to celebrate this landmark in their illustrious career with four original members in the line-up. IQ performed successful live shows throughout Britain and Europe.

In 2012, IQ celebrated the 15th anniversary of ‘Subterranea’ by re-staging the original show in full, updated with improved technology and production values, and the following year, they set about writing material for their new album, previewing work-in-progress versions of the songs at concerts in April and December.

2014 sees the release of IQ’s eleventh studio album, ‘The Road Of Bones’, supported by live performances in the UK and Europe. It will be officially launched at Islington’s Assembly Hall on May 3rd.

2019 on September 27 Resistance will be released

[nicola]

Intelligent Quotient

Two tracks to be previewed by RESISTANCE
from the Night Of The Prog Festival



.... waiting for the official release of RESISTANCE…. thanks to the doubts of Mike Holmes that before every release of official album wants to control the response of the public to adopt any changes in the track or in part of it. he gave us the opportunity to hear something in preview
I found 2 tracks from the next album ... An A Missile is the opening track of the album
The second track has not been identified and it is perhaps the one on which Holmes still wants to make some changes ……

.... More than a month ago the IQ had released a demo of their new album with 20 seconds of each track that I listened to obtaining a very favorable judgment…. I wanted to publish this link too ... But they must have taken it off ... maybe Holmes had doubts even on some mini tracks of 20 seconds ... surely very soon they will release it again to help the pre order and the sale of Resistance







IQ - "A MISSILE" (an unpublished piece at the time of the capture
from their album "Resistance" to be released in late September 2019.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EbpwoWPzV4

New Song from upcoming Album Resistance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe2fCTXB7do

These videos were recorded at the Night Of The Prog Festival, Loreley 19.07.2019

.... A word of advice ... it's better to listen at moderate volume ...
to better appreciate the various instruments ...
being a live recording of non-professional quality

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Also interesting is this mix of fragments from one of their last concerts at the Night Of The Prog Festival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPOkqxy1TaU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QKGp3neWxQ








*** Photos of Night of the Prog 2019 from ….
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMrmQuTMWJJhmTyaIqxJkPmQm2c3e-l1Imp4fLv91TPrqEMnmhuCyZcUJdiR791wQ?key=Ui1RRXZBdX RRcTZHRnFLdldpMHZIR3BQZjNsOHpB...



Good Listening

[nicola]

First Concert of the IQ TOUR

Islington Assembly Hall, London 07 september 2019

This is the list of songs performed


from setlist.fm





In the graphic Alampandria is described as Others ...
but it is part of the songs of the new album Resistance
present in the Disc One


Resistance Album Launch Event
From theprogressiveaspect.net
Islington Assembly Hall, London 07 september 2019
Article by: Leo Trimming
Photos by Mike Strauss


http://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2019/09/14/iq/


Two Official IQ Tour Spots
*** raise the volume


https://www.facebook.com/IQHQLive/vi...type=2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/IQHQLive/vi...type=2&theater