Martin Orford - Classical Music and Popular Songs

Martin Orford is the keyboard player and founder member of IQ. He also plays in Jadis and with the John Wetton band. Over the years he has become one of the stalwarts of the British Progressive Rock establishment. He is nearly always voted Best Keyboard player by the Classic Rock Society (he was again in 2000). Anyway, he has finally got around to releasing a solo album. It is a collection of his own compositions played by himself and some of his mates, i.e. all of IQ and Jadis with John Wetton thrown in for good measure. Most of the time the band are Gary Chandler (Guitar Jadis), Steve Christey (Drums Jadis), John Jowitt (Bass Jadis/IQ) and Martin playing and singing everything else.

The CD opens with "The Field of Fallen Angels" and what a corker! It starts with a great flute melody and then we are treated to a classic prog rock song. It is crammed full of great tunes and the keyboard solo is superb. Very Tony Banks, but much more besides. In fact, I think it is one of my favourite solos ever. Martin can even sing too, until I read the sleeve notes I thought it was John Wetton. It has an acoustic guitar thrash (David Kilminster John Wetton Band/Qango) in the middle and even a bagpipe bit that actually sounds good. One of my favourite songs of the year.

The next track "A Part of Me" sees John Wetton taking over the vocals, and Paul Cook (Drums IQ) and Dave Kilminster joining the rest for what is the best Asia song Asia didn't write! It sounds so like Asia (the Steve Howe years) and no bad thing too. Once again we have great melodies and the guitar breaks are superb. I can't stop humming this tune! Listen out for the guitar solo near the end by David Kilminster. It's brilliant. Have we got the new Frank Dunnery here? It sounds so like Dunnery/Holdsworth.

"Quilmes" is the next track. It is a solo piano piece and very enjoyable it is too.

"The Days of Our Lives" sounds a bit like Asia, a bit like Mike + The Mechanics and also a bit Pink Floydy, especially the saxophone break. Another nice guitar solo from Gary Chandler too but although the track is OK it is not particularly outstanding.

The next track is an instrumental called "Fusion" and is very baroque influenced. Mike Holmes (Guitar IQ) joins in the fun with some great melodies. Apparently this song was written pre The Lens (the forerunner of IQ). OK but a bit too much of the baroque influence for my liking!

The next track "The Final Solution" has Paul Cook on drums and David Kilminster on guitar again. A song about the impending end of the world but is actually quite a happy little ditty. It sounds a bit like Mike Rutherford's solo stuff (pre Mechanics) but I have to say it is not one of favourites. It's a bit simple, thumpy thump basslines went out with It Bites in the 80's, and the lyrics are a bit naff. But look out for the joint keyboard/guitar solos. Stunning, very Bruford. And after that the track improves somewhat. Not too bad after all.

Martin even plays the guitar too! Here he is with a solo classical piece sounding like a Steve Howe "Mood For A Day/Surface Tension" doodle. Impressive stuff for a keyboard player.

The next track is an IQ song rejected for the "Subterranea" album. It's called "The Overload" and is typical IQ. Atmospheric with a powerful ending and Peter Nicholls' voice cutting through as ever. Great track.

"Tatras" is a keyboard orchestrated piano piece with flute. It is a wonderful instrumental, a little like a movie soundtrack with a bit of The Enid thrown in for good measure. A little self indulgent but what the hell! Superb.

The last track is a gentle but powerful instrumental called "Evensong" in the same sort of style as Steve Hackett's "Spectral Mornings". Once again it has superb melodies and is a good way to bring the album to a close.

The production quality of the music is excellent, the only glitches being a bit of distortion on the loud piano passages, and perhaps a little bit over compressed but in general pretty good. The packaging is OK, lots of pictures, song analysis and info from Widge.

I have to say this is one of the best keyboard player solo albums I have ever heard. No over the top keyboard frenzy, just a collection of great songs with great melodies that have that unmistakable Martin Orford touch. I used to have him about on par with Tony Banks on my list of favourites, but I think on this performance and his incredible versatility and singing ability Martin Orford has just nudged ahead for this week! If you like progressive rock, especially IQ/Jadis, Pendragon, Yes, Genesis etc., you will love this CD.

(Copyright David Hopton -  2 January 2001)

All Artwork Copyright Geoff Chandler and GEP Records 2000