Newsgroups: alt.music.progressive
From: marwood@csri.toronto.edu (Simon J. Marwood)
Subject: Re: ASIA AQUA --> Excuse me, but ...
Keywords: Asia Aqua Payne Downes Howe
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Date: 9 Jan 93 20:25:13 GMT

In article <1993Jan9.190559.27723@bmerh85.bnr.ca> reaume@bmerh962.bnr.ca (Andy Reaume) writes:
>... this is *NOT* ASIA.

That really depends on what you want to define *ASIA* as. The band's current
sound is certainly not circa-1982 Asia. But it is not out-and-out crap either.
Once you get over the initial shock of John Payne's voice relative to Wetton's,
it turns out to be quite an enjoyable album. Not a classic, certainly, but
not garbage either.

> _Astra_ was awful and no
>wonder it went directly to the delete bins.

Actually, the reason that Astra went to the delete bins as quickly as it
did was the fact that both Geffen (and most radio and MTV) had a
different agenda by this time, and as a result, the record company did not
promote the album. This happened at the same time as much in-fighting in
the band. Again, Astra is not the same kind of music as the original
sound, for the most part. Nor is it "poseur crap".

>As mentioned a couple of months ago by some others, Steve Howe is on the
>album but he only makes cameo appearances on several tracks. He didn't
>contribute to any songwriting and basically put some value-added 
>intrumental solos on several tracks. Basically, the record company     
>really only wanted his name on the cover.

[...]

>Geoff Downes is the only original
>member of the band left and he co-writes every song and is basically
>calling the shots now that he is a big time producer.

Firstly, you are correct in that Geoff Downes is calling the shots. But
that is nothing new. Downes owns the ASIA name, and has always called
the shots.

Secondly, Howe has returned to the fold insofar as he toured with the
band (as "special guest"), and plans to do the next Asia album. There
is some discussion about what to do about the guitar situation, because
Vinny Burns has been the tour guitarist, and Howe does not like being
in a band with another guitarist. Howe's intention is to continue with
his solo work, but also participate in Asia from now on. Remember, he
was forced out of the band in the first place because of the Wetton/Lake
fiasco of 1983-ish. He and Downes have been close since, so it is not
really surprising that he is coming back to the fold now that Wetton is
gone.

Furthermore, Howe came in late on the project, which leads to the lack
of credit on all but "Aqua Part 1".

Incidentally, Wetton, who doesn't like mentioning the word ASIA nowadays,
has said himself that he thinks this is a good album. (!!)

As for John Payne's looks: irrelevant. Let's say that the original band
was still together and Wetton shaved his head. Would that make a
difference?

Granted, the disc has a much harder sound to it, and borders on pop-metal
in places. However, it is still nothing like Whitesnake, Poison, Winger,
et al. The change in style is somewhat appropriate, because Wetton was
making everything too balladish (see "Then and Now" and the revolting
"Wetton/Manzanera" for details!). Al Pitrelli was brought in (like
Pat Thrall) only temporarily. Now that Howe is back around, the sound
will likely change somewhat again. 

And I have to disagree with you on some of the songs. "Who will stop
the Rain", "Lay Down Your Arms", "A Far Cry", "Crime of the Heart",
"Don't Call Me", and "Someday" all sound Asia-ish with a slightly harder
edge to a few of them (mostly like Alpha with guitar presence -- and
recall that on Alpha, most of Howe's songs ended up on the cutting room
floor because he and Wetton had their fights). "Love under Fire" is
a Downes/Lake song from their aborted "Tiger" effort, and the two
instrumentals certainly ain't pop-metal. They're more like Downes'
"Light Program" CD.

This certainly isn't intended as a flame, just a vast disagreement. At
first, as I mentioned, you hear Payne and think: "????!?!?!?". Also, the
original sound is long-gone. But the disc as a whole is still utterly
listenable, and once you get used to the change, it is actually quite
good.

Simon


-- 
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Simon Marwood		 |		  -- Expos, 1993 -- 
marwood@csri.toronto.edu | ASIA ALPHA ASTRA AURORA THEN & NOW LIVE MOSKBA AQUA
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Newsgroups: alt.music.progressive