In early 1984, after months of internal struggles, guitar superstar Steve Howe was asked to leave the group. With Steve's departure, the band lost it's focus and went totally pop, losing a great deal of it's audience as well.
The next few years saw a myriad of changes in the band's personnel and sound. Though much of it was interesting, it still wasn't the original band.
In 2006, the original quartet reformed for 2 years of tours, and an outstanding live CD & DVD.
What the fans really wanted was a new studio recording just to show that the group still had it.
In the spring of 2008 - 25 years after the original group's last release, "ALPHA" - the original Asia rose from the ashes with th appropriately titled "PHOENIX".

The Tracks:

The album sounds like vintage 1980's Asia, more than likely how a 3rd album would have sounded back then.
John Wetton's solo composition "Nothing's Forever" is punctuated by Geoff Downes' trademark brass stabs and layered strings on keyboards, while Steve Howe switches from acoustic to steel guitars with ease. John's layered vocals tell us plainly to "live for the future".

"Heroine" is a classic power ballad. Simple, emotional & to the point.

"Sleeping Giant"/"No Way Back" starts out with Geoff's keyboards laying out a foundation typical of 1990's Asia output, while Steve adds jazzy electric guitar and Coral electric sitar which are reminiscent of his work with Yes. The instrumental opening segues into the vocal portion, which features John's strong voice and wah-wah bass. Following the vocal section, the intro reprises to a conclusion.

"Alibis" is a leftover song from the aborted 1984 sessions.
Credited to all four members, first part of the song is classic Wetton/Downes song writing. Hooks galore, multi-tracked harmonies, and excellent solo from Geoff & Steve are all Asia trademark arrangements. The 2nd half of the song is obviously the Steve Howe/Carl Palmer contribution. A 4-chord vamp typical of Steve's solo output with Carl's assorted percussion sets the backdrop for Steve's jazz/rock guitar solo. Very 1982.

"Shadow of a Doubt" is "Don't Cry" revisited.

"I Will Remember You" is a haunting ballad in the Wetton tradition, that tugs at the heart strings.

The album's progressive piece is a 3-part epic.
"Parallel Worlds" features one of John's best ever vocals and Steve's tasty electric 12-string.
"Vortex" is segued into by Geoff's piano & Steve's guitar, with a staccato figure that sets the tone for Carl Palmer's supreme moment on the album. Double bass drums combine with rapid fire snares and tom toms.
"Deya" is the calm after the storm, a quiet nylon string and steel mood piece.


The track least at home on this collection is "Orchard of Mines", the one non-group composition they ever recorded. It's the one weak link on the album.

Steve contributed two solo compositions to the album.
The first "Wish I'd Known All Along" is the the type of song that Yes would have recorded, and the presence of Steve on harmony vocals, His high speed guitar breaks & Geoff's 'Yes-type' keyboards, reminds us where these guys came from.
"Over & Over" is a 1984 leftover that other than John's vocal is Steve all the way.

The albums closer " An Extraordinary Life" is a wonderfully optimistic feel-good song that's one of the group's very best.

My favorite track, however, is the opener, "Never Again".
Steve's Gibson ES Artist is showcased from the distortion-soaked opening riff, to the Fenderesque bridge tone, to the bluesy/jazzy end solo.
Geoff's textures are just right.
Carl's speedy high hat and rounds on the toms are rock solid.
John's vocal strong and proud as he vows 'never again' to wish evil on another.
A magical performance; the best since the first albun.


Asia rose from the ashes, and the dragon met the phoenix. A must-have for Asia fans.

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ms_shanda2205 I love all your music keep it coming