IQ

There are already four concert videos of IQ on the market, but Dark Matter Live in America and Germany 2005 is the first one released in NTSC format for American audiences. This extremely generous two-DVD set clocks in at over four hours and delivers high-quality, professional footage of the group's appearance at the 2005 NEARfest in Bethlehem, PA, and decent though less striking documentation of an outdoor concert at the Burg Herzberg Festival in Germany. The two concerts happened a week apart, so the set lists are identical, except the German performance is a few songs shorter to accommodate a 90-minute time slot. Disc one ("Stage One") delivers the NEARfest concert (July 9, 2005) in all its glory. Two days earlier, new drummer Andy Edwards had made his first stage appearance with IQ at a stupendous warm-up show in Montreal. At least six cameras capture close-ups of all bandmembers and full stage shots that include the three projection screens hanging high over the stage. Singer Peter Nicholls is in particularly good shape, his voice assured, powerful and moving. The set list includes a hefty dose of the group's then current release Dark Matter, including the half-hour epic "Harvest of Souls," a highlight. There is a handful of old fan favorites, like "It All Stops Here," "Awake and Nervous," "Widow's Peak" and "The Wake," but the most poignant song is certainly "The Seventh House," delivered with more warmth than on the studio album. The group, always generous in their shows and very fan-conscious with their set lists, unexpectedly skips over the Subterranea album, performing only the middle section of "The Narrow Margin," which acts more as a cruel teaser than bona fide acknowledgement of this landmark album. The reason may be found in Andy Edwards' very recent drafting -- the band began including complete songs from Subterranea into their live set in the fall of 2005. Sound and video quality are excellent, and the editing is dynamic, with lots of split-screen montages and without any cheap effects. Disc one also proposes ten minutes of excerpts from the soundcheck, including a snippet of "Outer Limits," not performed at the show. Disc two ("Stage Two") features the German concert. This one was filmed by the Burg Herzberg Festival and the format is more akin to a fit-for-TV production. The outdoor setting creates a different vibe, but the overall filming is weaker (with annoying up-the-nose close-ups) and Nicholls' voice shows more strain. The lack of diversity between this short set and the NEARfest one also makes it redundant. Then again, it had been recorded (all shows at the festival had been and a compilation DVD was released), so why not include it? Disc two also includes a 15-minute NEARfest backstage featurette ("Stage and Screen") and 13 minutes from the Montreal concert, "Andy's First Gig," amateur footage shot from the balcony. The video on the latter is grainy and the sound substandard, but the event does have historical meaning (IQ's first line-up change since 1991!) and the footage includes a complete rendition of "Outer Limits," not performed in the two main attractions. Both concerts are presented in stereo and 5.1 surround sound. Generous package, classy editing, perfect live sound: Dark Matter Live in America and Germany 2005 is a must-have for the fan. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide