The Lens - Discography (2001-2010)

Tracks / Треклист:
01. Sleep Until You Wake (7:11)
02. Choosing A Farmer (part 1) (8:10)
03. On Stephen's Castle Down (2:27)
04. Shafts Of Light (2:52)
05. Childhood's End (5:51)
06. Frost & Fire (6:27)
07. Of Tide & Change (8:56)
08. From The Sublime (6:38)
09. Choosing A Farmer (part 3) (5:32)

Duration / Продолжительность: 00:54:04

Line-up / Musicians:
- Michael Holmes (of IQ) - electric, acoustic, & bass guitars, additional keyboards
- Martin Orford (of IQ) - vocals, keyboards, piano, flute
- Paul Cook (of IQ) - drums & percussion

Guest Musician:
- Tony Wright / saxophone on 5

Tracks / Треклист:
01.Choosing A Farmer Part (part 4)
02.To The Power Of Five
03.Twenty Eight
04.Dreams
05.Sequential
06.Full Of Stars
07.A Little Robot Juice
08.Slowdown

Duration / Продолжительность: 01:01:35

Line-up / Musicians:
Paul Cook - drums, percussions
Niall Hayden - drums
Tony Wright - Sax
Mike Holmes ( IQ ) - all other instuments

To find the roots of a "modest" band called THE LENS, we have to go back to 1976, when guitarist Mike Holmes, Peter Nicholls (vocals) and Niall Hayden (drums) met when according to the urban myth, searching for a GENESIS ticket, so they decide to form a band called THE GILN almost out of nothing.
They soon recruit bass player Rob Thompson and keyboardist Peter Blackler and changed the name to THE LENS. They start to play in small venues. Really this was an amateur attempt, to the point that Niall Hayden often was replaced by Brian Marshall, or when the two were together, both played, something similar happened with Peter Nichol's position.
The first revolution starts when Thompson and Blackler leave and the excellent keyboardist Martin Orford joins the band, his first appearance with THE LENS was the last one with two drummers, because Niall quitted after a show in Nettley Abbey.
After some changes, in 1978 the band turns into a four piece, but despite the problems and constant changes they kept growing, until 1981 came and THE LENS vanished, but...........IQ took it's place, the rest is history for anybody who knows a bit of Neo Prog.
Their only release is a compilation album of old material that was released by GEP Limited in 2001. Good material for fans of IQ who want to dig in the past and for those interested in solid Neo Prog with clear MARILLION influences.(Progarchives)