The Neo-Progressive movement
IQ were one of a small number of British bands formed during the early 1980s, including Marillion, Pendragon, Twelfth Night, Pallas, and Quasar that continued with the progressive rock style forsaken by 1970s bands such as Genesis and Yes. The music press coined the phrase neo-progressive to describe these bands, often accusing them of simply copying the styles of other bands. This accusation has been strenuously denied by IQ, which are against of the use of the term "neo progressive"and claim to have a wide-ranging and eclectic selection of musical influences.
The line-up
From 1982, the line-up consisted of Peter Nicholls (vocals), Mike Holmes (guitar), Martin Orford (keyboards), Paul Cook (drums), and Tim Esau (bass). Nicholls left in 1984 to form a new band, Niadem's Ghost, and was replaced by Paul (P. L.) Menel, but subsequently returned in 1990. Nicholls also created the cover art for most of the albums on which he appears. In early 2005 member Paul Cook left the band, and was replaced on drums by Andy Edwards. On 20 July 2007 Martin Orford announced he was leaving IQ and was replaced by Mark Westworth from prog-rock band Darwin's Radio. Despite his departure, Martin continues to run the band's label GEP and is still closely involved with the band, although he announced in late 2008 that he will leave the music business entirely and hand over the reins of GEP to someone else (as yet unnamed) in early 2009.
Musical style
The band's musical style, especially earlier in their career, was reminiscent of Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett era Genesis because of singer Peter Nicholls' vocal and stage-presence similarities to Gabriel and keyboardist Martin Orford's grandiose keyboarding. However, guitarist Mike Holmes' role was far more assertive in the band, giving them a harder edge musically. After Nicholls' departure, the band's style became increasingly commercial and radio-friendly - albeit without much success - on Nomzamo (1987) and Are You Sitting Comfortably? (1989), although each album still featured some progressive rock-style tracks. Beginning with Nicholls's return on 1993's Ever, the band returned to its prog rock roots, with longer tracks featuring intricate arrangements and complex musicianship.
Band members
Current members
Peter Nicholls – vocals, backing vocals (1981–1986, 1993–)
Mike Holmes – guitars (1981–)
Paul Cook – drums (1982–2005, 2009–)
John Jowitt – bass guitar, backing vocals (1993–)
Mark Westworth – keyboards (2008–)
[edit] Former members
Martin Orford – keyboards, backing vocals (1981–2007)
Paul (P.L.) Menel – vocals (1986–1990)
Tim Esau – bass guitar (1981–1990)
Les 'Ledge' Marshall – bass guitar (1990)
Mark Ridout – drums (1981–1982)
Andy Edwards – drums (2006–2008)
Discography
Albums
Seven Stories into Eight (cassette) (1982)
Tales from the Lush Attic (1983)
The Wake (1985)
Nomzamo (1987)
Are You Sitting Comfortably? (1989)
Ever (1993)
Subterranea (1997)
The Seventh House (2000)
Dark Matter (2004)
Frequency (2009)
Live Albums
Living Proof (live) (1986)
J'ai Pollette D'arnu (1991) (b-sides and live tracks)
Forever Live (1996)
Subterranea : The Concert (2000)
The Archive Collection: IQ20 (2003) ("official bootleg" of live concert)
Compilations
Nine in a Pond is Here (1985) ("official bootleg" of demos etc, CD version is abridged)
Seven Stories into Ninety Eight (1998) (original 1982 album plus new re-recorded version)
1. Capital Letters (In Surgical Spirit Land) 2. About Lake Five 3. Intelligence Quotient 4. For Christ's Sake 5. Barbell Is In 6. Fascination 7. For The Taking 8. It All Stops Here 9. Eloko Bella Neechi
The Lost Attic (1999) (rarities)
Limited edition Frequency Tour CD 1 (2008) (rarities and live tracks)
Limited edition Frequency Tour CD 2 (2008) (rarities and live tracks)
[edit] Videos
Forever Live (VHS/CD set 1996, DVD set 2007)
Subterranea : The Concert (DVD, 2000)
IQ20 - The Twentieth Anniversary Show (VHS 2000, DVD 2004)
Live From London (DVD, recorded 13 May 1985 in London, 2005)
IQ Stage (DVD, 2006)
Without Walls
I.Q. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sworn surrender stole the day
Like a wave of wasted wonder
Rising up and swept away
These moments I retain
Locked in against the pain
As the darkness folds around me
And the doubt is growing stronger
I no longer can be found
Don't tell me anymore, it's what this life is for
In sight of lost amends, your light will shine never again
I occupy these rooms I build
And word by word, the silence is filled
Light descends in empty shades
Undermines the time we lost
Here today I'm not afraid to calculate the hollow cost
Never crossed that good expression
Said I wouldn't and I didn't
Cutthroat counsel, that won't free me
Language I could only dream of until now
I'm ready to begin, the silence is wearing thin
Without walls, constant breakdown
Without time, any day now
Without words, fake it somehow without you
Half of me is undeceased
Half is underneath the ground
Any way you gain release
Don't go where you can't be found
Are we late? It's complicated
State the words best left unspoken
Making nothing out of something
They will break what can't be broken
Now I'm made of other skin, defiance is wading in
Without walls, without time, without words, without you
Now I'm ready to begin, the science is wearing me down
And I can't go outside and there is no reason why
Unforsaken heart, take another shot now
Break it to me, protect me from the truth
Keep that highborn hope safe and futureproof now
Walls without our self control
Sleep that brings no guarantees
Night awake, come take your toll
Right there's the life and death of me
High like a permanent sun
Fly hard through a sky made of thunder
Carelessly counted on, what possessed you?
Swear to me, then you're gone, what is with you still?
Send out the sound of bells, let it splinter
When sense of purpose fails, it all disintegrates
Crowds unascended now
Rain with the burning showers
Signs come to send me down
Saw the deeper understanding
Torn asunder, wrenched apart
When the wave of wasted wonder
Rose above our empty guard
These moments made me then
And by them now I am defined again
You always knew
In the sunken water shallows, imperfections yet remain
Set beneath that mask of sorrow lies a face without a name
Don't tell me anymore, it's what this life is for
Until I stand alone
Your light will shine never again in this lifetime
In this lifetime, shine on me again, shine on me again
The lyrics of "Without Walls" by I.Q. are profound and poetic. The song revolves around the theme of finding order in chaos, surrender in defiance, and hope in despair. The opening lines of the song emphasize the disconnection with reality and the inner turmoil experienced by the singer. The metaphor of the wave of wasted wonder rising up and sweeping away signifies the transience and fragility of life.
The song then delves into imagery of darkness folding around, colder forces holding down, and growing doubt. The singer expresses his reluctance to receive any more information about life and the inevitable loss of light. The lyrics suggest that the singer is an introverted personality, trying to make sense of life's complexities from within the confines of his self-built rooms.
As the song progresses, the singer recognizes that the silence is wearing thin, and he is ready to begin afresh with a new perspective on life. The lyrics emphasize a need for self-control and an eagerness to break free from the conventional walls of life. Finally, as the song concludes, there is a sense of bittersweet acceptance of the past and a longing for hope in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Finding order torn asunder
The once established organization has been ripped apart
Sworn surrender stole the day
Giving up took over and dominated the day
Like a wave of wasted wonder
A surge of aimless awe
Rising up and swept away
Quickly elevated and then disappeared
These moments I retain
I hold onto these memories
Locked in against the pain
Shielded from the hurt
As the darkness folds around me
The shadows engulfs me
Colder forces hold me down
Negative emotions oppress me
And the doubt is growing stronger
The uncertainty is intensifying
I no longer can be found
I am lost
Don't tell me anymore, it's what this life is for
I don't need any more information, purpose of life is this
In sight of lost amends, your light will shine never again
After harming any opportunity to make it right, you will never recover
I occupy these rooms I build
I am confined to my own creation
And word by word, the silence is filled
Gradually accentuating the stillness with words
Light descends in empty shades
Radiance emerges in emptiness
Undermines the time we lost
Diminishes all that was lost in time
Here today I'm not afraid to calculate the hollow cost
Today I'm fearless in tallying the valuelessness
Never crossed that good expression
Resisted exhibiting positive emotions
Said I wouldn't and I didn't
Promised not to, and kept that promise
Cutthroat counsel, that won't free me
Crucial advice, that won't liberate me from my situation
Language I could only dream of until now
Words I couldn't express, now finally verbalized
I'm ready to begin, the silence is wearing thin
I'm set to start, the stillness is losing its effect
Without walls, constant breakdown
Devoid of barriers, consistent disintegration
Without time, any day now
No chronology, readiness for anything
Without words, fake it somehow without you
Without language, masquerade without your presence
Half of me is undeceased, half is underneath the ground
Part of me is alive, part is buried
Any way you gain release, don't go where you can't be found
Don't try to escape where you can't be discovered
Are we late? It's complicated
Are we delayed? It's a complicated situation
State the words best left unspoken
Express what should be kept secret
Making nothing out of something
Turning something into nothing
They will break what can't be broken
They will destroy something indestructible
Now I'm made of other skin, defiance is wading in
Presently I have different attitude, insolence is arising
In the sunken water shallows, imperfections yet remain
In the shallow, drowned water, flaws still exist
Set beneath that mask of sorrow lies a face without a name
Behind that façade of despair is an anonymous face
Until I stand alone, your light will shine never again in this lifetime
Until I am solitary, your radiance won't appear again
And I can't go outside and there is no reason why
I can't leave, and I don't know why
Unforsaken heart, take another shot now
Undeserted spirit, try one more time
Break it to me, protect me from the truth
Tell it to me gently, shield me from reality
Keep that highborn hope safe and futureproof now
Safeguard that noble expectation and make it inviolable from now on
Walls without our self-control
Barriers that can't be self-regulated
Sleep that brings no guarantees
Unpredictable and unreliable sleep
Night awake, come take your toll
Being alert at night, take what's owed
Right there's the life and death of me
There is where my existence and demise lie
High like a permanent sun
Consistently elevated like the sun
Fly hard through a sky made of thunder
Soar intrepidly in a stormy atmosphere
Carelessly counted on, what possessed you?
Casually depended on, what took hold of you?
Swear to me, then you're gone, what is with you still?
Promise me, then you're gone, why are you still here?
Send out the sound of bells, let it splinter
Disseminate the chime of bells, let it shatter
When sense of purpose fails, it all disintegrates
When intent fails, everything falls apart
Crowds unascended now
Multitudes not yet lifted up
Rain with the burning showers
Precipitation with scorching downpour
Signs come to send me down
Marks appear to descend me
Saw the deeper understanding
Observed the more profound comprehension
Torn asunder, wrenched apart
Ripped apart, violently separated
When the wave of wasted wonder rose above our empty guard
When the surge of pointless amazement surpassed our vacant defense
These moments made me then, and by them now I am defined again
These instants made me back then, and they currently describe me again
You always knew
You were always aware
Now I'm ready to begin, the silence is wearing me down
I'm primed to start now, the stillness is exhausting me
Without walls, without time, without words, without you
No barriers, no time limit, no language, no you
Contributed by Mason Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.