ASIA

(UNITED KINGDOM)

ASIA

(1982)
LABEL:

GEFFEN

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

TAGS:
Easy-Listening
"Missing link between the Pop of the Beatles and the tortured pieces of Yes, Asia offers us with its first eponymous album a true masterpiece."
PROGGI (04.03.2008)  
5/5
(0) opinions (1) comment(s)
1981, the punk movement has devastated everything in its path, progressive rock is running out of steam and the dinosaurs are dying. The Englishman John Wetton, whose glorious achievements are legion in bands like King Crimson, UK or Roxy Music, finds himself without a band. The guitarist Steve Howe, who left Yes is free and has itching fingers. ELP having no more musical existence, Carl Palmer is available. As for Geoff Downes, his experience with Yes (and his producer friend Trevor Horn, from the Buggles) was short-lived. This is how Asia was born and immediately entered the studio with producer Mike Stone, sound engineer for six Queen albums.

Asia weaves a link between Pop and Progressive Rock throughout the nine songs of this first album proposing a music that respects the almost immutable rules of the "Couplet-Refrain" with a small instrumental in its middle. But, and this is the strong point of Asia, we are dealing here with musicians who have made all their career more complex music containing convoluted structures.

'Heat of the Moment' opens the album in the best way with a catchy and heady chorus. It's all John Wetton in this song, the sobriety, the unstoppable melody, the warm voice and the vocal harmonies, Asia's trademark. Only Time Will Tell' and 'Sole Survivor' will enchant the fans of keyboards, two compositions of the duo Wetton-Downes particularly successful with orchestrations and instrumental interventions worthy of the greats. Finally, let's mention 'Time Again', a track that is a bit off the beaten track with its little bridges made of dialogues between the drums and the other instruments.

No need to describe all the tracks of this album, they all deserve to be listened to. "Asia" is to date the biggest commercial success that John Wetton, the true craftsman of the band's first release, has had (there will be many others, most without him). Asia is plainly the missing link between the Pop of the Beatles and the tortured songs of Yes.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Heat Of The Moment - 03:54
02. Only Time Will Tell - 04:49
03. Sole Survivor - 04:52
04. One Step Closer - 04:19
05. Time Again - 04:49
06. Wildest Dreams - 05:13
07. Without You - 05:08
08. Cutting It Fine - 05:40
09. Here Comes The Feeling - 05:45

LINEUP:
Carl Palmer: Batterie
Geoff Downes: Claviers
John Wetton: Chant / Basse
Steve Howe: Guitares
   
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS    
Top of the page
   
(1) COMMENT(S)    
 
 
ADRIANSTORK
26/12/2024
  0
Tout coule de source sur cet album des 4 ex. Immédiat et enchanteur, prog et pop, sophistiqué et radio friendly, ce premier album d'Asia est la réussite d'un prog qui a retrouvé une seconde vie apres la débâcle de 1973 (injustifiée) et la déferlante punk (qui a eu le mérite d'accoucher du post punk et de la new wave). 'The Heat Of The Moment' avait tout du hit of the moment. Avec toutefois une préférence pour l'angoissant 'Wildest Dreams'.
Top of the page
READERS
4.6/5 (7 view(s))
STAFF:
4.3/5 (12 view(s))
MY RATING
 
 
OTHER REVIEWS
AEROSMITH: Rocks (1976)
HARD ROCK - "Rocks" is a must-have new album from Aerosmith that many fans consider their best.
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA: No Answer (1971)
POP - Of all ELO's albums, "No answer" represents the most progressive and experimental album of Electric Light Orchestra while remaining quite easy to access.
 
 
OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT ASIA
ASIA_Arena
Arena (1996)
4/5
5/5
SPV STEAMHAMMER / PROGRESSIVE ROCK
 
F.A.Q. / You found a bug / Terms Of Use
Music Waves - Rock (Progressive, Alternative...), Hard Rock (AOR, Melodic,...) & Metal (heavy, progressive, melodic, ...) Media
Reviews, News, Interviews, Advices, Promotion, Releases, Concerts
© Music Waves | 2003 - 2025