Artist: MARTIN ORFORD [IQ]
Album: THE OLD ROAD (CD)

Year: 2008
Media type: CD

Martin Orford is best known as the keyboard player and a founder member of the well-known progressive rock band IQ. After gaining experience in various school and college bands, Martin teamed up with Mike Holmes in 1977 in The Lens, a mainly instrumental outfit from Southampton, England. Having dissolved The Lens in 1981, Martin and Mike immediately formed IQ, and in spite of various line-up changes, the band is still active today, although Martin left in 2007.

In addition to playing on and co-writing all of IQ’s many releases to date, Martin was also instrumental in the rise to popularity of the more guitar-based Jadis, playing on and producing their first CD “More Than Meets The Eye” in 1992, and appearing on nearly all of the band’s studio albums to date.
Martin has also enjoyed a long working relationship with Asia and former King Crimson/UK singer/bassist John Wetton, guesting on several of his albums, whilst being part of an all-star live band which included (at various times) legendary drummer Thomas Lang, guitarists John Mitchell (It Bites/Arena), Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters), and even on one occasion Steve Hackett of Genesis fame.

Alongside musical activities, Martin is a founding and active director of Giant Electric Pea (GEP) Records, which as well as providing a vehicle for in-house projects like IQ, also launched such artists as Spock’s Beard into the European market.

In 2000, he released his first solo album “Classical Music And Popular Songs” to critical acclaim and the CD achieved excellent sales. Eight years on brings the release of “The Old Road” Martin’s second (and reportedly last) solo album which features guest musicians including Gary Chandler (Jadis), Nick D’Virgilio and Dave Meros (Spock’s Beard), John Wetton, John Mitchell and Steve Thorne.

Martin has announced that he will be quitting the music business completely at the end of 2008, citing disillusionment with Internet piracy and the "free music" culture as the principal reason.

TRACKLIST:

01. Grand Designs
02. Power And Speed
03. Ray Of Hope
04. Take It To The Sun
05. Prelude
06. The Old Road
07. Out In The Darkness
08. The Time And The Season
09. Endgame

LINE-UP:

Martin Orford (Keyboards/ guitars/ flute/ vocals)

Plus Guest musicians:

Guitars: John Mitchell (It Bites/ Arena), Gary Chandler (Jadis), Steve Thorne
Drums: Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard/ Genesis / Tears For Fears),
Andy Edwards (IQ/ Robert Plant)
Bass Guitar: John Wetton (Asia /King Crimson/ UK), Dave Meros (Spock’s Beard)
Vocals: David Longdon, John Wetton, Steve Thorne, Dave Oberle (Gryphon)
Irish Fiddle: Colm Murphy