The Wake is the second studio album by British neo-progressive rock band IQ, released in June 1985 by Sahara Records. Recorded at Falconer Studios in London from March to April 1985, it was produced by Mike Holmes and Tim Esau.
Wildly recognized as a definitive recording of the 1980s neo-progressive rock movement,[1]The Wake remains IQ's only album to reach the UK Charts, peaking at number 72 with a stay of one week.[2]
The cover art was designed by lead singer Peter Nicholls. In the image, most of the characters are original, except the central one, which is based on Canadian actress Rae Dawn Chong wearing clay face paint as Ika in the film Quest for Fire (1981). However, according to Nicholls, many fans of the band misinterpreted this as a self-portrait, since he wore extensive stage makeup at the time.
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