Asia: Phoenix

The original line-up of Asia is back with their first CD since 1983's Alpha, as they find themselves on EMI America Records here in the US (Frontiers Records internationally) for their first release in 25 years, titled Phoenix. Surprisingly, though they are no doubt much older and wiser, the band seems to have not lost a step at all, as Phoenix basically carries on in the tradition of the self-titled debut as well as Alpha as if no time had passed at all and none of the subsequent Asia releases and line-ups had happened in the interim. Bassist John Wetton, despite all the health problems he has had over the years, sounds great, his voice rich and melodic on tracks such as "Nothing's Forever", "Heroine", and "I Will Remember You", and his bass playing still carrying that distinctive 'Wetton touch'. If you like the more "ballady" part of Asia, then there's plenty of that here for you. When the band rocks out a little more, and dips into their proggy bag of tricks, as on "Never Again", "Sleeping Giant/No Way Back/Reprise", "Shadow of a Doubt", or the adventurous "Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Deya", it's guitarist Steve Howe who really shines, laying down plenty of those snakey, sinewy lines that we know so well through his many years with Yes. Through it all, keyboard player Geoff Downes drops in an assortment of orchestrations and synth tapestries, although at times you have to wonder about his choices of sounds as quite a few have a sterile sort of feel to them. What about Carl Palmer you ask? Well, the ELP legend clearly holds it all together, but don't expect too much in the way of flamboyant drum wizardry, as Palmer basically plays what is right for the songs, injecting some snazzy fills on tunes like "Alibis" and the ELO-ish "Over and Over", but overall just keeping things in line and holding down a solid groove. The band saves the best for last on the wonderful "An Extraordinary Life", an addicting piece with Howe's fleet fingered solos, Wetton's soaring vocals, symphonic keyboard riffs from Downes, and classy stick work from Palmer. It's one of those songs you can easily play over and over, as the melodies just scream for you to hit the replay button.

While Phoenix is probably not going to be the chartbuster that Asia's self-titled debut was, it's a solid return for a bunch of seasoned veterans who still obviously have plenty of magic left to show us. Catchy melodies abound here, along with some tasty, if understated, instrumentation, signaling the return of a band that quite frankly has been missed for many years. Welcome back guys!

Track Listing
1) Never Again
2) Nothing's Forever
3) Heroine
4) Sleeping Giant/No Way Back/Reprise
5) Alibis
6) I Will Remember You
7) Shadow of a Doubt
8) Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Deya
9) Wish I'd Known All Along
10) Orchard of Mines
11) Over and Over
12) An Extraordinary Life

Added: August 24th 2016
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Official Website
Hits: 4449
Language: english

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