Asia has been around the block and back and will likely forever be remember for the popular hit "Heat of the Moment" which is simply one facet to their sound. After several handfuls of albums across three decades, and a few lineup changes, the original core came back a few years ago, and this is their second stab at a full length record. Gazing into its soul,
Asia is a progressive rock band, which means that great melodies often have to war with tremendously drawn-out passages where nothing too exceptional happens. Of course fans of the band will embrace this quirk with arms wide open and should not be seen as a detractor. For the rest of us, things tend to get on the snoozy side at times, but it doesn't last, and the band reels it back in before apathy strikes. There's enough pop and rock flavor to override the progressive tendancies usually.
"Finger on the Trigger" is the standout rocker track, being a cool mixup between 70s power rock and 80s melodic sensibilities. An instant easy-to-get-into track, and obvious single material, if radio still played such things. Oh but hasn't his been done before? Wetton/Downes ICON "Rubicon II" perhaps will ring a bell? Such a shame really, but this explosive throwback rock track certainly deserves a solid shot at gaining a bigger audience.
"I'm Still the Same" has the same kind of pop sense and a luscious
AOR feel. Moments like these are struck down by such as noodling messes as
"There Was a Time", a meandering song that never shifts out of gear and plods along with all the enthusiasm of a pack horse pulling a skyscraper. The band even sounds bored as the song lazily spaces out.
Then there's uplifting progressive rock epics like
"Holy War" that resurrects the prog rock sound of the 70s with grace and skill. The lyrics unfurl as the story blood is pumped into life. Beautiful guitar work and atmospheric keyboards bring a sense of ancient wonder to the track.
"I Don't Want To Lose You Now" is the better ballad, sweet subdued guitars and rounded vocals give it a simple seeming melodic structure, and is slightly reminiscent of Sheriff.
"Through My Veins" is pure fluid smoothness, mid-tempo and spreading out like vintage classic rock, where choruses and melodies were not so neatly meat packed in together. The guitars are strangely comforting yet have this little edgy bite to them at moments. However, there seems to be too much room to breathe. The climax you keep waiting to happen never comes to fruition.
"Light the Way" jams on the keys and revels in the old sounds, feeling and sounding for all the world like classic
Asia, with a spooky twist unsettling along the way. Steve Howe's guitars cut out their own presence, and Wetton's voice supports it nicely. Not the most remarkable song, but like many tracks on
"Omega" that seem average at best, it does have a few head turning moments.
The favorite is
"Emily", strangely only on the digipack version, but it is without a doubt, the song that pops the most. It's grand feel, clever lyrics that end up turning this yearning love story on its head in a surprising turn of events, and a strong pumping piano melody make it pop where others just plod and succumb to predictability.
"Emily" keeps you on your toes and throws in some lovely backing vocals as well. A very well thought out and constructed piece that drops in your lap like unlit dynamite.
And that's perhaps the biggest obstacle in
"Omega's" path. The songs are a bit too progressive minded. Regretably pompous, if you will. There is a great deal of plodding downtime that surely envokes atmosphere but doesn't exactly keep one's interest focused. A concept album, with threads running through it and well crafted lyrics, it is a shame that
Asia did not streamline their tracks more. But perhaps that is missing the point that the heart of the album is trying to convey.
Where "Phoenix" exposed mortality, and took some decisive risks,
"Omega" shows us faith, love and hope, even when it boils down to hippy cliches (the eye rolling, check-your-gag-reflex, sentimentality of
"Listen Children" for one). There is never a song that leaves you feeling down, each one has a positive force that leaks over, even if it takes them awhile and lots of musical noodling to get there. A good disc, but certainly not the greatest creation in
Asia's expansive catalogue.
Written by
Alanna Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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