ASIA (LIVE IN ASIA)

Asia is my introduction album to Kitaro. I had originally seen the video for Cloud on VH1's show named New Visions. The show had world, solo piano, and New Age music. In the wide band of New Age music was a musician named Kitaro. Never heard of him before but that is why I liked the show. Anyway, Cloud was not like 95% of the music being played. It was soothing to start but gradually built into a powerful instrumental song. Thundering drums and a guitarist who had spent some time listening to David Gilmour plus Kitaros soaring keyboards. Not very New Age like to me, but it's just a label.

I have many of his albums and the live ones usually have more muscle than the original versions of the songs. Asia is no exception. I still return to this album often as Kitaro strikes a balance between instrumental rock, symphonic prog and contemplative New Age.

A strong 4 stars.