Loco/Motive

Loco/Motive Iqeq The title of Iqeq's second album is indicative of the quartet's music mantra: Insanity sometimes seems to be the purpose. Iqeq experiments with grooves and prog-rock ideas, builds toward a crest of roaring guitars, vocals, keys, and, yes, clarinet ... then plunges headfirst into infinity. Strangeness rules, whether it's the lounge-lizard f-bomb during 'Animals' or swirling noise freakout near the beginning of the title track. As was the case on Iqeq's debut CD, 'Loco/Motive' is an acquired taste - especially if clarinet makes you want to hurl. But the sound quality has improved, as has the songwriting and execution. Much like jam bands, Iqeq dabbles too often, and vocals -though better - aren't this group's strongest suit. But Iqeq is darker, heavier and more avant-garde than jam bands, even if the smell of Phish permeates some of this disc's quirky tracks. The final third of the album contains Iqeq's most dynamic, spacey and interesting music. 'Melodramatic, overdramatic, primadonna,' vocalist Tom Kershaw sings on the hard-hitting 'Bridges,' right before Iqeq cannonballs into it's own melodramatic, overdramatic pool of prog. The title track is self-indulgent, trippy, even spastic. It also triggers Pink Floyd flashbacks. Which means it's pretty great. Eccentric listeners will bump up the volume on their headphones and remind themselves that this encouraging, improving band is from Boise. Michael Deeds ----------------------------------------------------------- we now join Boise, Idaho's Iqeq floating peacefully downstream. A stampede of elephants on acid charges the distant shore. Formed early 2005 by drummer/singer/noise machinist nate p. and guitarist/singer tom kershaw they were soon joined by the strapping kyle letner on bass and vocals. The team was complete upon the arrival of dan McMahon who dutifully manipulates his vocal chords, keyboard and rock n roll clarinet. The band's "happily mad" prog songs are composed by all four members. Inventive songwriting and passionate performances you're sure to remember. Influences include: frank zappa, the beatles, liars, radiohead, wilhelm richard wagner, tv on the radio, mars volta and more.