Classic Album Anniversary: IQ - The Wake (1985)

"And it's such a lonely ride to tomorrow
Through the corners where the light never shows
When it seems impossible to imagine
How the world could be so cold to itself"

Time for a neo-prog classic from the 1980s: The Wake is the second album by the British band IQ. I couldn't find the exact release date for the record, but Wikipedia says it entered the UK album chart at #72 on June 22, 1985, so this day is fitting for this post.

Like their peers Marillion, IQ were compared to Genesis in the early days, probably due to vocalist Peter Nicholls' nasal delivery and theatrical stage presence, which were undoubtedly influenced by Peter Gabriel. However, IQ's music also had contemporary influences, so they weren't merely a pastische 70s prog band.

"Outer Limits" kicks off the album with a hypnotic bassline and eerie keyboards before the whole band joins in, but even after that it's keyboardist Martin Orford's diverse use of organ, harpsichord and synths, as well as Tim Esau's basswork and use of bass pedals that makes this song remarkable. "Outer Limits" sets a rather dark mood for the whole record, which is a concept album about death.

The progressive elements are also present in "The Magic Roundabout", which starts off fast-paced before settling on a slow and steady tempo. Mike Holmes plays an impressive guitar solo at the end, but despite that the song isn't especially remarkable compared to the rest of the album. "Widow's Peak" is the record's peak (pun intended), opening with gorgeous clean guitars and flutes. After that the song goes through various time signature and mood changes, from slow to fast, mellow to restless and major to minor, without sounding incoherent, and the song ends where it began. Holmes uses the delay effect to great effect (as you may have figured out by now, I love puns) in the middle section. "Headlong" reprises "Outer Limits" and closes the album on a high note, although the melancholy beginning might lead you to think otherwise.

The remaining songs exhibit IQ's more accessible side. The title-track is a hard-hitting rock song with intense vocals by Nicholls and impressive drumming by Paul Cook. "Corners" is a rather exotic tune with sitar and programmed percussion, while "The Thousand Days" is a melodic sing-along driven by Holmes' clean guitars.

The Wake did relatively well for a prog album in the 80s, selling 10,000 copies in the UK, but the "Corners" single failed to make an impact on the radio, and frontman Nicholls left the band due to communication problems later in 1985. IQ had built a solid following, but they couldn't reach the status Marillion had, probably because they weren't backed by a major label. However, after a couple of more commercial albums with another singer IQ were rejoined by Nicholls, and they continue to record new music and play live to their small yet faithful fanbase.

The Wake may not have been a groundbreaking album, but it's a hidden gem that's stood the test of time and possibly IQ's greatest achievement after all these years.

Rating: 4/5

(Unfortunately the album isn't on Spotify and there are no tracks from it on IQ's official YouTube channel, so I'll leave it up to you to look for the songs online.)