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By Pete Perry
Well, The guys from Qwestion sent me their CD, ‘Y’ all the way from The USA to These guys sent their latest CD, Y, all the way from the USA to Stevenage in the UK , and it only took four days! I was well impressed!
Track One: The Mask: Pounding drums, screaming guitars, there’s no Qwestion that this is good, driving rock. Good stereo separation too, - which I love, having been weaned on 70s progressive rock from Floyd, through The Fairies, ELP and Uriah Heep to Ultimate Spinach (who? I hear you ask: Only the best-kept secret from the West Coast of The USA in the late Sixties, that’s all!) This is good, solid stuff, totally instrumental, some great sound effects, and a great start to the album.
Track two: freeProv: I was fascinated by the subtle, ethereal, enigmatic sounds in the background throughout this track, - a little like The Beatles on speed! Some great, unusual sounds, interweaved with great guitars, - essential in prog rock as far as I’m concerned! Great stops and starts, too! Is there a hint of King Crimson here? Ever-changing tempo, and great guitar riffs make this a potential classic.
Track three going into Track four: Chaos Theory/ A little swim before the walk: The beginning of this sounds like the guys having a vocal rehearsal in the shower, right down to the trickling water! Mad, tantalising, and just when you think this is a vocal experimental track, in come those pounding guitars! Chaos indeed! I challenge anyone to fall asleep during this! It ends very suddenly, but I love it!
Track five: Forest of The Norm: Far from the norm this one, - It drives along relentlessly with twin guitars, with that pounding drum beat going on throughout, with enough variation to keep the listener interested. Very seventies, - but I aint complaining! I love the way the guitars harmonise like voices: The middle bit plays tricks with your ears, - try it on ‘phones! You won’t believe your ears! At 11.58, this is second the longest track on the album.
Track Seven: 3one2: do I detect a little Uriah Heep here? Possibly, - a little heavier than any of the previous to start with, - but that only goes to show what a versatile bunch of musicians these guys are. Then it all changes again to more raucous stuff. Several movements to this, with a common theme running throughout: Great guitar work, Classic.
Track Eight: YacMacHa: back to basics here, with good, heavy rock with a progressive edge. A great finish to a great album.
Pete
