ASIA

There are times when you have to go back a little, just 40 years here to talk about this emblematic album of the 80s which effectively promulgated prog rock within 5 minutes. In short, I'm playing it again for fun and hope you'll dive back into it.

'Heat of the Moment' a riff, a smooth rise, the drums, the synth, not to mention the clip that will be broadcast on radio and TV, the unstoppable hit, the one that will be wrongly cursed by the progs (those of the 70 we agree!); a fast title with the air and the little progressive declination, and that's how the prog world changed in 1982. 'Only Time Will Tell' for the cymbals, the intoxicating keyboards, the typed voice of John and that guitar in the distance, again a dancing radio edit, which inaugurates concerts in the stadium; better than an 'eye of the tiger' or 'the final countdown'; only the clip has aged, the rest...a concise title that moves and ensures that the prog can be shortened with quality. 'Sole Survivor' for the prog metal intro before its time and the chorus quickly assimilated, another internal war of the old ones who wanted to take refuge behind time to dissect an album; here it's a sure punch from the first listen; the break with flute even if it comes from a keyboard and the guitar arpeggio leading to a solo guitar-synth duet is always the most beautiful effect, only the end annoys me. 'One Step Closer' which most resembles Yessian sounds in my opinion, the most symphonic with the typed instrumentation; in short who has not sung on their concerts instead of staying locked in his beard? 'Time Again' ends the 1st side, yes it was like that before; an intro with choirs, a rise with drums and bass in front, it looks like a piece of more than 10 minutes; giant! am I not neutral? good what more to say, stereo ok, air prog ok, crescendo ok, rhythm ok, zero boredom, and what a riff, almost heavy... at a time when prog metal wasn't even imagined by the prog sphere.

'Wildest Dreams' begins the second side for the title where John is most in value, suave voice, strong choirs, prog drift with whirling synths; the 1st of 4 over 5 minutes also for a progressive concentrate; I love Carl pounding on the video and the bell tolling the death knell on a world without war, even creepier today. 'Without You' my less good yes it takes one, too much, syrupy, it's the break hit snare drums that hangs up on me, then the bells again, in short I like it anyway. John sings like on King Crimson and I love the ending. 'Cutting It Fine' still a worked intro, Steve in spite of the criticisms over time on his fingering ensures serious, that it is binoclard, old toothless now; but how do you live, gentlemen, you who are surely at the same physical level? In short, the title which flows, interspersed by a drummer who sets fire and this solo before the divine piano break; military drums, synths a la Yes there, Geoffrey is not bad and shows one of the two most prog tracks there is. 'Here Comes the Feeling' begins Yes of course and energetic rhythm; dark verse limit spleen with rise which gives pride of place to the keyboards, good Pendragon did the same with Nolan then; less than 3/4 hours and we are already thinking about the replay because the time has passed too quickly.

No track neglected, all potential hits, an intense musical quality from start to finish, a gifted drummer, a singer ditto, a guitarist who squirts his solos, a synth that gives fat to the tracks, a great group I still think so today, releasing at the time a real OMNI (musical UFO in English).