AQUA

So is this album; as said upper, a kinnd of transition between the wetton end the payne's era.

The whole LP doesn't sound compact for there are some poor numbers on it, but some gorgeous ones. Among the latest ones, "AQUA p.1", a delicious intro to the album, in a very modern- progressive spirit, adding the calm, majestuous and reverb shaped classical guitar of Steve HOWE (unexpected guest !) to the keyboards stuff of Geoff DOWNES; an illustration of what asia could have been and sounded like thru time!

Other great piece (but many don't like it), "back in town", a real good piece of heavy blues meat! there, an illustration of what asia COULD have become (or tried). simple, direct, full of energy but still melodical. I buy!

What to say 'bout "crime of the heart" and how i like that. This intro with the dry solo violin making contrast with the large but smooth piano chords, the heavy drums on the chorus and this tremendous guitar solo by Al "savatage" PITRELLI ! A fu...Good piece of melodical FM hard rock teinted with progressive influences and gimmicks. there an illustration of what asia maybe SHOULD have become.

I have a personnal affection for "voice of reason" with its long previous part, very still, mysterious, composed of golden steel guitars arpeggios and mandolin licks then this more powerful conclusion with heavy bass and drums. Only a few more bars with an increased tempo are missing for making of it the most progressive-like and achieved piece of the album.

Let's take a look too at "little rich boy" for its pretty good ending, fading out trickly and re-fading in with some gorgeous Pitrelli's solo; A good raming heavy stuff close to back in town, good for headbanging!

About the rest? No comment. You can hear it, listen ti it, but you won't really remind it. Like the next asia albums? Or the older ones? Probably... to me, that is almost a kind of trademark: some very brilliant songs among some other dispensable ones. It is a sign of freedom surely but also the quality and failure of asia.

SO? Is it relly a transition album or is it straight in asia's line. I choose the 2nd option but i am still listening today to the very songs i reviewed. So give it a try!

Bye and sorry again for the language mistakes guys.

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