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"For this tenth opus, IQ spoiled us by offering us beautiful compositions in a rather dark register that suits the band well."
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4/5
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A new IQ album is always an event, especially since at the current rate of one release every five years, fans must be patient. The quality of this "The Road Of Bones", which is only the tenth original studio recording in more than thirty years of existence, will make you forget this long wait.
Important changes are to be noted in the band's line up: Andy Edwards (drums) and Mark Westworth (keyboards) will have made only a brief appearance for "Frequency" and are replaced respectively by Paul Cook, the historical drummer of IQ, and Neil Durant who was part of Sphere³ and collaborated several times with Grey Lady Down. Even more remarkable is the departure of John Jowitt who had succeeded Tim Esau on bass since "Ever", and who is replaced by the same Tim Esau back after fifteen years of absence.
There is a cause-and-effect relationship, but this formation with three of the group's creative members offers us compositions worthy of the British combo's greatest hours. But before mentioning the musical content of this new opus, it is good tone to highlight what could be its defect (the only one!). Indeed, the object is distributed in a single or double CD version, suggesting that the second disc is "only a bonus" whereas it contains no less than six new tracks for about forty minutes of listening. To do without this extra good music would be a sad mistake.
The first track of the first CD, "From The Outside In", plunges us back into the IQ universe as it did in the band's greatest hours, a tonic track that could have be in "Subterranea"! After the 7'24 of this introduction, the listener finds himself immersed in the dark atmosphere of the next track. This composition, which gives its title to the album, seems inspired by the Russian M56 motorway, built in its first part by prisoners from labour camps and then gulags. This sad road structure is nicknamed the "bone road" because the bones of the convicts who died during the works were incorporated into its tarmac.
After the beautiful darkness of "The Road Of Bones", this first CD offers us three other tracks, two of which have a duration favourable to long developments and numerous rhythmic changes: "Without Walls", a beautiful progressive piece lasting more than nineteen minutes, and "Until The End", which closes with its twelve minutes, a more than pleasing first part. On the second CD, which is far from being dispensable, there are no less than six original tracks, two of which are longer than ten minutes. If I had to mention only one track among these "bonuses", it would be the last one, "Hardcore", the second half of which is bewitching, with a series of melancholic passages and almost floating atmospheres, going so far as to evoke Pink Floyd...
The fears of a decrease in creativity following Martin Orford's departure have thus been completely erased and it must be acknowledged that Neil Durant's mastery of keyboards brings an additional dimension and sound to IQ's music. Paul Cook's return, after a brief absence, and Tim Esau's return, fifteen years after his departure, reconstitute a highly effective rhythmic section. Peter Nicholls' vocals conveys the intensity of the lyrics well thanks to (or despite) this voice that annoys some ears and enchant many others. And finally, Michael Holmes dares to place a little more soli where the feeling takes the bottom on the punch.
For this tenth opus, IQ spoiled us by offering us beautiful compositions in a rather dark register that suits the band well. If you opt for the two-CD version, the pleasure will be twofold, because, far from being dispensable, the six titles presented as bonuses are for me inseparable from those of the first CD. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. From The Outside In - 07:24
02. The Road Of Bones - 08:32
03. Without Walls - 19:15
04. Ocean - 05:55
05. Until The End - 12:00
06. Knucklehead - 08:10
07. 1312 Overture - 04:17
08. Constellations - 12:24
09. Fall And Rise - 07:10
10. Ten Million Demons - 06:10
11. Harcore - 10:52
LINEUP:
Michael Holmes: Guitares
Neil Durant: Claviers
Paul Cook: Batterie
Peter Nicholls: Chant
Tim Esau: Basse
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(7) COMMENT(S)
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Excellent ! La finesse des compos tant sur le plan rythmique (un basse/batterie inventif et au cordeau) que mélodique donne une fraîcheur bienvenue. Certes cela reste du IQ et il n'y a pas de révolution, mais cet opus réussit, au fil des écoutes, à libérer sa substantifique moelle. Malgré ce timbre de voix si particulier et monocorde, Nicholls arrive encore à m’envoûter.
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Xav et Tony, tous les avis sont bons à partager... :)
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Les amateurs de IQ seront ravis et de plus il est vrai que l'attente aura été longue, encore une fois. La version deux CD s'impose effectivement ne serait-ce que pour "Hardcore". Paul Cook a vraiment fait défaut, Martin Orford étant agréablement remplacé. Beaucoup de beaux morceaux à écouter avec plaisir, peu ou pas de déchets selon moi. Le titre "The Road Of Bones" fait, selon ma compréhension, allusion au parcours sordide d'un tueur en série. Résultat encore une fois superbe.
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C'est vrai qu'à part "Without walls", on s'ennuie quand même un peu. Bien sûr, il y a le savoir faire d'IQ mais, pour l'originalité des compositions, on repassera. Le problème n'est pas tellement que cet album soit mauvais ou pas (d'ailleurs, il ne l'est pas), c'est plutôt qu'on s'aperçoive rapidement que le groupe est en mode "pilotage automatique" (depuis un certain nombre d'années en fait). Bref, du prog bien carré (avec la mèche au milieu) mais qui ne m'a provoqué que trop rarement une accélération du palpitant.
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Vous voudrez bien avoir l'amabilité de m'épargner vos sarcasmes et gardez vos expressions à l'emporte pièce qui n'ont comme seul objectif ; annihiler la parole de ceux qui ne pense pas comme vous. Je connais assez bien le monde du prog, et, ai hélas, la fâcheuse habitude de croiser d'irréductibles fans qui ne font pas toujours dans la demi-mesure dès lors qu'il s'agit d'évoquer leurs idoles.
Après de multiples écoutes, je considère cet album comme une stagnation dans la carrière des anglais (voire pire). Maintenant que de nombreux fans d'IQ prennent du plaisir à écouter cet album, est tout à fait respectable, mais alors de grâce ne minimisez pas les avis qui divergeraient des vôtres. Mon opinion ne vaut pas davantage que ce concert de louanges auquel on a droit, mais certainement pas moins !
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READERS
4.3/5 (25 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.9/5 (14 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH IQ
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT IQ
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