Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Asia
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 1992
Length: 60:12
Rating: 4/5
The moment the legendary bassist and vocalist John Wetton (ex-Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, Uriah Heep, UK, Wishbone Ash) decided in 1991 that he’d had enough and left Asia, heartbroken over the American market’s growing indifference, it looked like a bitter end for a band that had filled stadiums as if it were nothing in the eighties and sold more than 10 million copies of its unforgettable debut. Most of their fans simply couldn’t imagine them without Wetton on vocals, and they had quietly made their peace with that when keyboardist Geoff Downes (ex-The Buggles, Yes) , who had taken the helm, suddenly decided to carry on and record a new Asia album, titled “Aqua”, with a reshuffled lineup.
As the new singer and bassist he picked up-and-comer John Payne, who had previously worked with Roger Daltrey (The Who) and had also been seriously considered by Electric Light Orchestra Part II, where he was meant to replace Jeff Lynne on vocals. Payne had a rather different, somewhat more “American” voice than the unmistakably English Wetton. That made him a fitting choice for any harder-edged rock numbers, and he was right at home on all the power ballads too. No surprise that he soon managed to win over plenty of longtime fans as a worthy replacement for the charismatic Wetton. As for his bass playing, Wetton was still the undisputed authority there, even though Payne was talented in that department too.
The other lineup changes that happened before the recording of “Aqua” were nowhere near as radical. Of the original members, Downes managed to hang on to the brilliant but moody guitarist Steve Howe, who had just quit Yes again for a short spell and so was free to play on most of the album’s songs, as well as the drum maestro Carl Palmer (ELP). The latter already had one foot in the reformed Emerson, Lake & Palmer, so he left Downes and company immediately after the recording was done. The new guitarist was American Al Pitrelli, an excellent hired gun who’d worked in his career with the likes of Savatage, Alice Cooper, Megadeth and Danger Danger. Among the special guests, drum wizard Simon Phillips (Toto) and guitar legend Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy) stood out.
Downes and Payne packed no fewer than thirteen new songs onto the album, which isn’t surprising given that almost seven years had passed since the previous album, “Astra” (1985). In many ways “Aqua” successfully carried on their long-running melodic rock sound, mixed with progressive rock touches here and there. Many of the album’s creations would probably have become hits in the eighties, but the start of the nineties, with grunge on the rise, was thoroughly unfriendly to the commercial success of this kind of music.
The ethereal opening instrumental “Aqua Part One” features the trademark contribution of ‘Mr. Owl’ Howe on acoustic guitar. It’s basically an old but always sly trick for convincing longtime fans that the album is worth sticking with and that the band hasn’t changed all that much, while at the same time offering a breath of fresh air and a departure from the openers of past Asia albums. The next track proves it too, the excellent melodic rock anthem “Who Will Stop the Rain”, where Payne introduces himself as an authoritative and energetic replacement for the beloved Wetton. Gentle symphonic arrangements in the background strike a balance between the spirited vocal performance and the hefty guitar phrasing up front. The first hurdle is thus cleared with ease, proving that the new Asia is full of drive and work ethic and only slightly different in philosophy from the original, classic lineup. This eco-conscious classic was originally conceived for an unrealized project called Rain, and later turned up on a solo album by singer Max Bacon (ex-Nightwing, GTR). The rather average “Back In Town”, driven by a bluesy guitar phrase, sounds much harder rocking than the usual Asia standards and like something Wetton most likely would never have approved. Guest guitarist Scott Gorham surely had a hand in that, having undoubtedly inspired the line “the bady boys back in town”.
With the stirring power ballad “Love Under Fire”, which Downes originally wrote together with Greg Lake (ex-King Crimson, ELP) back in 1988, the new incarnation of the band finally convinces that it can go toe to toe with the mighty legacy of the previous generation. Payne, meanwhile, proves himself a singer of exceptional emotional depth and wide vocal range. “Someday” is another very good power ballad, loaded with nostalgic atmosphere and combining some of the best AOR and prog rock sonic elements, such as Downes laying down sprawling symphonic curtains. Asia always had an innate knack for avoiding the excessive sappiness that so often marked their melodic rock peers.
“Little Rich Boy” is a solid filler of untamed kinetic energy, with slick synth textures up front and a fighting-spirited Payne on vocals. The epic “The Voice of Reason”, marked by mighty orchestral arrangements, is without doubt the most thrilling creation on the whole album, with the band showing off exceptional sonic sensibility, instrumental perfectionism and a flair for unpredictable yet melodic twists, the same things that wowed fans in the past. The pacifist “Lay Down Your Arms” is a rousing anthem of the kind Asia loved to delight us with before, and in terms of quality it’s every bit their equal.
The power ballad “Crime Of The Heart” is also full of untamed energy and soaring atmosphere, just what every quality AOR ballad needs. “A Far Cry”, which in its structure recalls some of their eighties creations, has all the band’s best qualities and revels in lavish orchestral arrangements and a stirring opening guitar solo. The dramatic “Don’t Call Me” is a love confession that, despite some interesting instrumental solo flashes, doesn’t achieve the desired emotional effect and is thus one of the less interesting pieces on the album. All the more thrilling is the epic “Heaven On Earth”, which positively sags under hypnotic symphonic curtains and rhythmic momentum, with, as usual, a mighty chorus up front that fills the listener with positive energy. The album closes with the instrumental “Aqua Part Two” in much the same style as it opened, except this time it’s Downes’s synth waves reminiscent of the murmur of the sea.
“Aqua” may not rank among the very best of Asia’s achievements, but after a long six-year break it was still a surprisingly successful and inspired album, with plenty of songs that earned classic status long ago. You could say it’s a successful bridge between the band’s original incarnation and the new version of the band with Payne and Downes in the lead roles. The surprising success of the album’s tour, on which the heavily promoted Steve Howe also appeared as a special guest, encouraged the duo to carry on with the Asia story, even though any commercial success like that of the past was out of reach and unrealistic.
Line-up
Geoffrey Downes – keyboards, vocals
Steve Howe – guitar on 1,2,3,5,7,10
Carl Palmer – drums
John Payne – vocals, bass guitar
Al Pitrelli – guitar
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Simon Phillips – drums
Scott Gorham – guitar
Ant Glynne – guitar
Mats Johanson – guitar solo on “Crime of the Heart”
Production
Geoffrey Downes
Track list
1. Aqua, Pt. 1
2. Who Will Stop the Rain?
3. Back in Town
4. Love Under Fire
5. Someday
6. Little Rich Boy
7. The Voice of Reason
8. Lay Down Your Arms
9. Crime of the Heart
10. A Far Cry
11. Don’t Call Me
12. Heaven on Earth
13. Aqua, Pt. 2
