Asia is much more than "Heat of the Moment" as they have proven with a multitude of album releases and a wealth of excellent material. This grab at reliving the glory, sees them return to their celebrated roots of glorious pomp
AOR. The defining
Asia sound that sweeps in grand anthems and luscious melodies. John Wetton is back on board behind the mic, and anyone that tampered with the
Wetton/Downes release will realize that bringing him back into the fold of Downes'
Asia is perhaps the best thing that has happened to the band in the decade. "Phoenix" is a bit of a dabble into their prior last name-sake collaboration dosed with a huge amount of older
Asia pomp. No one does the big anthems like this band does, and they have brought them for this mythical bird emblazoned disc that literally sees them rising from the ashes as the cd's title and fanciful cover would suggest.
It truly is their
"Phoenix" if you will. Those waiting for
Asia to make a return to the early 80s should have their expectations and hopes sufficiently realized. The opener
"Never Again" is an absolute firecracker of an uplifting song. It soars to gigantic heights on the strength of gorgeous vocal melodies, fluid six string heart racing rhythms and laced keyboards that shove the sound even higher into the stratosphere. Geniunely thrilling stuff that seems to lift any weighty mood right off your shoulders. In a flash,
"Never Again" makes the blues disappear just like "that".
"Nothing's Forever" is not as grandiose but delivers on a pop level, luxuriating in a bit of expansive Queen-like atmospheres, as "Shadow of a Doubt" relies on a splendid chorus and more superb keyboard work from Downes.
Targeting the ballads is
"Heroine", appropriately sweet and a dash clichéd but sang with passionate fever by Wetton, making it a standout at any rate. The way the song climbs the later of pompous excess like something out of a Meatloaf fever dream is quite magnificent to behold. "I Will Remember You" is puddlingly soft and fluff, and might sneak a tear or two in, being an emotional piece that lets Wetton just slather his voice all over the song with unabashed drippy sentiments."
Over and Over" brings on the guitars thick and keeps that epic feel strumming throughout, like a wave of melody dancing as an undercurrent. The
"Alibies" chorus is incredible and keeps things poppy and somewhat modern feeling but yet definitely and completely "
Asia" without a doubt.
The best and most scrutinized pieces are going to be the multi part epics.
Asia is known for puffy prog/
AOR/pomp crossed songs that are just huge, and those are dually represented here. Either one will put you through the ringer with their classiness and instrumental indulgence, though each individual song strikes a different chord entirely.
"Sleeping Giant/No Way Back/Reprise" is just this incredible triple treat with the mind numbingly catchy "
No Way Back" being the showcase in the middle. That portion of the trio is perhaps one of the best bits to be recorded by
Asia version 2008 and is just a great slice of hook laden
AOR both in context and pulled outside it's musical bookmarks.
"Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Deya" is a mesmerizing
Asia "new" classic. The
"Vortex" portion is the meat (of course) and inspires with its prog rock intricacies and instruments that weave spells around one another. Downes keyboards are especially of note. This one dares to challenge the listener more than
"Sleeping Giant", and even missing a real killer number, its still a nice piece in its own right.
"Deya" takes it to a flamenco Spanish closure that is curiously intriguing. Both epics are simply masterful in the manner they have been pieced together, making sure to bring the vocals to the forefront and highlighting guitars and keyboards when necessary, all while the rhythm section keeps it all locked in together nicely. These two are big numbers that should flood any fan of the band in a sea of welcoming nostalgia.
John Wetton's health issues are brought to the forefront and set to music for the hymnal "An Extraordinary Life" that tells his tale of a brush with a death with a touch of lethargy and then lifts you up on those renewed wings of hope.
"Orchard of Mines" also focuses on that voice but unfortunately forgets itself and offers nothing in the way of a hook. However the ambiance is appropriately chilling.
"Phoenix" peaks on the opener and the epics and the rest never manage to quite eclipse those, but the remainder of the album is fairly rendered as well, and you can tell these original members are glad to be back as a unit and this shines through in the music.
This could have been popped out in the early 80s as the true third album and follow up to "Alpha", instead of "Astra" (which is what they actually released in 1985) and no one would have batted an eye. The production is dead on, the pomp circumstances seem naturally buried in that decade, feelings of warmth in the music where it very well could have been replicated and cold. "Phoenix" is an uplifting album, and one that stands out as a diamond in their career of gems. The members and the band themselves have seen ups and downs both personally and in their professional lives. Albums that didn't quite click and a drop off in quality, but this one brings them back full circle to the blaze of their glory. A must for any fan of pompy
AOR that is delivered as a true classic act all around.
Written by
Alanna Sunday, June 22, 2008
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