Go back and listen to it again! - Strangely, there is only one review for this album which is the first of (possibly) the greatest today s prog band (sorry Flowerkings and good bye Porcupine Tree you are a second best!) and, with all due respect for my fellow prog-fan who rated it earlier than I, I totally disagree with you.Perhaps you heard it for the first time with today s ears. But this is a hell of a debut! I was a mere 22 years old, still mourning for the demise of Genesis when in a small record shop (yes, records were still in vinyl then ) I saw this incredibly beautiful cover and by impulse (because it was expensive and I did not have much money then) I bought it.I put it on and I was stunned. Prog was still alive... with its long complex architecture of a music that does not speak only to your ears but to your heart.Now I m double that age and I still shiver when I hear it.Perhaps technically it s not recorded in the most flawless way. So what? The music is powerful and the melodies are beatiful, wild, majestic, tortured, sometimes insanely captivating and still full of nuances that I m still discovering.Go back and listen to it again, and for all the others, go buy it, even if it s expensive. Even though The Wake is superior this is a must have album for whoever loves prog music.
IQ - Debut Album, Ok But They Would Do Much Better - In the early 80 s the neo progressive rock movement burst out of England and got relatively popular for a time. The band that got the biggest was Marillion, but IQ was another pioneer of the movement and arguably as good. Tales From The Lush Attic was the debut album from IQ, taking its influence from classic 70 s progressive rock especially Peter Gabriel era Genesis. Lush Attic was recorded in 5 days and unfortunately it shows in the production. The album showcases a band that would do much better albums later in their career, but flashes of brilliance can be found here and there. Peter Nichols voice is a bit on the shrill side on much of this album. He would become a much better singer later on as well. The album contains 2 tracks that have become IQ classics. The 20 minute Last Human Gateway starts out a bit weak for my ears, but the final 5 minutes or so of it is outstanding. The Enemy Smacks is another fan favorite that still finds it s way into the IQ live set today. Overall the album sounds quite dated, but it hints at where the band would go down the road.
Bad production - The sound is horrible for a 1984 album, the composition are immature.The vocal is hard to listen to, bad musical transition.The band did much better few years later but with this debut album, they were still looking for a musical identity.I give two stars for some few good moments of The last Human gatawayIt seems that the band like the same part than me of The last human gateway because these parts have been played live on Forever Live and they didn t play the rest.
Debut Album? - Incredibly this is the debut album of an incredible band in prog rock.This is incredible because listening to songs starting from the epic The Last HUman gateway, through Awake and Nervous and masterpiece The Enemy Smacks, you hardly believe this is a debut album, as it sounds more as a mature album of a long experienced band.The quality of sound in spite 1983, is very good and overall this is a very good product which I strongly recommend to any IQ fan and to those who didnt have the chance to listen to this band before..
Wake up Bozo Pedroza - This cd was bashed for poor production by my nemesis. If he would step back and listen to the compositions he would let the flaws in production fade. These guys know how to write excellent 10-13 minute songs. They get kind of bogged down on their longer compositions. However, The Last Human Gateway is the exception- a terrific all out progressive gem. Come on Pebozo - lighten up-these are great songs!!!