|
Asia -
Fantasia: Live in Tokyo
Eagle Rock Entertainment
www.originalasia.com
Rating: B
When I found myself back
in ‘82, I discovered a band called Asia. I bought the debut album as I was a
huge fan of Yes guitar player Steve Howe. I watched the album race up the
charts all the way to #1. Some of my prog friends found the pop sounds
threatening to the legacy of Yes and ELP but I found the music to be highly
creative and intriguing. Most of the world agreed as the album sold in the
millions.
To the dismay of the
band’s fans, the original line up of Asia was gone in only a few years. Worse
yet was the manner in which the band broke up. Words were flung about and the
chances of Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer and John Wetton ever
getting back together seemed less than slim. Downes carried on with many forms
of the band but they never were able to regain the musical magic of the original
line up.
Perhaps time healed all
wounds or perhaps it is a sign of the apocalypse but somehow and someway Asia
reunited. In 2006 they toured and proved they still ‘had it.’ Now, in 2007,
twenty-five years down the road, the original foursome has released their first
ever live album titled Fantasia: Live in Tokyo. The result is a
double-disc that contains the entire first album, the highlights of the other
albums released with the original line up and a few incredible surprises.
Asia, for the first time,
allowed each member to play a song from the band that they were in before the
super group was formed. In addition to the Asia classics “Without You,” “Heat
of the Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” and “Don’t
Cry,” the band performs ELP’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Yes’ “Roundabout,”
The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” and King Crimson’s “In the Court of
the Crimson King.”
Hearing each of these
amazing versions of classic rock staples shows how the sound of Asia was
created. It is interesting to hear Wetton sing on each of these songs.
“Roundabout” and “Fanfare” are both excellent and are two of the highlights of
the disc. It is refreshing to hear an album that sounds live as well.
This is not just a recreation of the first album. The band puts their own spin
on it, changing tempos, adding guitar solos and at a times playing a new
acoustic arrangement.
The best news is that
Eagle Rock is going to release a DVD of the show later on this year. For now,
the CD will more than suffice. It is wonderful to hear Wetton sounding so good
as his unique voice lent the band a lot of their signature sound. In the end,
this double live disc shows the great musicianship that was Asia. Perhaps this
years tour to support the record will inspire Downs, Howe and Wetton to try once
again and create some new music. In the meantime, though, Fantasia will
do.
– Jeb Wright |
