(Frontiers) Total Time : 64:52
Woa, all I can say is woa, the first Asia album to feature all 4 original members – in a quarter of a century…quite a thing eh? Maybe it’s not what the world has been waiting for with baiting breath, but still the band managed to make it’s mark in the 80s on the strength of a few tunes and what…3 albums ?
Bringing together seasoned musicians from Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Uriah Heep, U.K., and The Buggles, namely, Drummer Extraordinaire Carl Palmer, Keyboard wizard Geoff Downes, guitar supremo Steve Howe and vocal titan John Wetton, created an explosive and commercially very successful combination of rock and pomp with pop sensibilities and ornated with superb musical embelishments. In the heat of the moment – caught the fancy of countless fans the world over, making it an eternal classic and a smashing hit back in the day…there were of course more hits and 2 more albums Alpha and Astra, which although they not bad albums, themselves at all, somehow managed to loose the bands momentum whose course came to a crushing halt a while after that…
We all know and appreciate what happened next… the Payne years…. And to be quite honest, it feels rather akward to see two Asia’s and all this shenanigans … I mean – I could understand that this is some sort of arrangement… who knows…. Let’s focus on the music, shouldn’t we ?
Asia is stuck in the 80s. This could have been released in 1984 no problem. Nobody would know. Same sound, same brilliant production, hell even serious health problems (get and be well man) and 25 years seem to have affected John Wettons voice at ALL !!!? (And man what a voice he has …) It’s as if somebody de-frosted a cryogenically preserved version of the original band … kind spooky – but also interesting, because the band delivers exactly – what they were known for !
“Never Again” starts the album in fine form, an uplifting, keyboard rich anthem – in true Asia style… sly, ponderous, melodic, just an excellent way to start the album.
“Nothing’s forever” has a more cinematic feel to it – beginning with an acapella line – a keyboard paean – and continuing in a more introspective, melodic and rather melancholic but also optimistic at times motif… for some reason – I couldn’t help drawing parallels to “Let me live” by Queen, it created a similar sensation/atmosphere… filtered through Asia’s stlye of course.
“Heroine” is a powerful, balladesque song – rich in pomp and sophistication, with beautiful guitars and a soaring chorus… great indeed.
The trio of “Sleeping/No Way Back/Reprise” … I mean… just wow !
“Alibies”…. Well I never thought I ‘d like a song which includes the word procrastination so much …hahaha…. It’s just brilliant. A brilliant poppy tune, while still totally true to the Asia spirit. What a chorus…
“I will remember you” is another excellent ballad, which really reminded me of the recent – spine chilling MASTERPIECE “To catch a thief” from Icon’s Rubicon album… stylistically. Although not as monumental as the aforementioned composition, “I will remember you” is a total tear jerker…
“Shadow of a doubt” manages to nicely take a similar melody – but mixes it – with a much more vibrant and faster drum pattern than the basic accompaniment of the preceding piano laden ballad…which leads to a climatic chorus… really beautiful …
Another triplet,“Parallel Worlds / Vortex / Deya” follows… and what can I say… the blood in my veins is about to turn to jelly !!! This is possibly my favorite musical moment of the album. 8 minutes of genius…of quasi-operatic proportions. You got to hear this…to believe how beautiful this medley is.
“Wish I’d known all along” is a bizarre sort of a track – Wetton comes even more to the fore, carrying the song mostly on his own, he’s the focal point here. The phrasing is scandalously smart, really grabs your attention. Really a remarkable song.
“Orchard of mines” is a sentimentally charged and atmospheric song, that really gave me the chills…
“Over and over” is typical Asia fare, nothing out of the ordinary, not bad – but maybe a little not as evocative as the preceding tracks… maybe if I hear it “over and over” I will like it more …. Haha.
And to round of this really strong and memorable album – “An extraordinary life” based on John Wetton’s health problems, is a song that begins a little lethargically – but builds up to a VERY optimistic and uplifting – almost hymnal song…. Very anthemic, and a brilliant way to close the album…
Bravo. Asia – deliver an album – that I never though they had in them – not necessarily for the huge profits – that they will probably not reap from this record – but from their royalties from “Heat…” but for the LOVE OF THE GAME, for the love of music.
Bravo, I’m speechless...
One of the better ASIA albums in their entire and illustrious career.
