IQ - Living Proof (1986)

Living Proof documents an IQ concert from May 1985 recorded for the British television series Live From London. The LP edition was released without the band's consent (or knowledge) and bore poor sound quality, and was deleted in 1987. Giant Electric Pea (a label managed by IQ members) reissued it with improved sound quality in 1992. This is a good performance. Most of the material comes from the then-recently released The Wake; six of the album's seven tracks are included. These songs differ very little from the studio recordings, but "Outer Limits" gets extra value in terms of punch, and overall this album provides an opportunity to hear how the material translated into a live setting. Paradoxically, the band sounds tighter and more confident here than on The Wake. Of more interest are the powerfully delivered "Awake and Nervous" (from Tales From the Lush Attic), the riveting "It All Stops Here" (from the band's self-released first album), and "Just Changing Hands" (the B-side of the 7" single "Barbell Is In"). These are the real treats. Living Proof is a document, not an essential; only the die-hard fan will not be bothered by the redundancy between this live LP and the studio album. Newcomers should begin with The Wake.