DVD Review

IQ
"Subterranea: The Concert"

Rating 75%

reviewed by Kim Bolton

 

available from

 

 I have hesitated and thought long and hard before writing this review, basically because as a big IQ fan I actually find it difficult to criticize anything they do, but unfortunately when it comes to their long awaited (and I mean LONG!!!, so long in fact, that in the meantime I went out and bought the video) Subterrenea DVD release, I find I have to do just that.

OK, so what's wrong with it? Well as far as the actual gig content is concerned, nothing at all. It's great, but it was great on video too. But DVD usually means, apart from better sound quality and vision, the added extra of bonus material - and that's what I paid my £18 for (told you I was a fan). So this is the aspect I wish to review for you others tempted to swap your VHS copy for the expensive DVD.

The first item I viewed was the "Photo Gallery". Well, to be honest I could have taken better photos myself using a Tesco's value brand disposable camera after drinking one too many Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters. Next I watched the "Orchestral Overture", which made the BBC 2 1970's testcard seem exciting, for a moment I thought it had something to do with the effects of the Gargle Blaster but then I realised it really was doing nothing and decided to reach over for another glass to make things move. They didn't! "Going Underground - the Making of Subterranea" however proved to be the biggest disappointment. I had been looking forward to interviews with band members, anecdotes, out-takes and a general insight into what makes these guys tick. What I got, was nothing of the kind. This "documentary" consisted of a lot of IQ techies giving their side of the story. I thought one in particular was a musician in the making, you should see the way he blows his own trumpet, Louis Armstrong - eat your heart out!

I went on to listen to the "Band Commentary". This was mainly Martin Orford talking about how Subterrenea came to be and managed to give the impression that it was basically a mix up of leftovers. Sounds like my cooking really. But, just like my cooking, the results were outstanding - I still absolutely love Subterrenea. Other band members made the odd I-really-should-say-something-now comments but basically I got bored and went back to the original audio.

I saved the the best till last and thoroughly enjoyed the "Encores" - but however good these two extra tracks were, did they really justify the added expense?

I had expected a lot more for my money. Where were the subtitles, the web links, the extras such as "Where IQ are going - what's in the pipe line?", band member info, solo projects and profiles, discography (a gallery of album covers would have been appreciated much more than the photo gallery we got!), in fact anything of interest at all. Or are all these to be released in future as an "IQ - The History" DVD? Lets hope so.