Thursday, January 31, 2008
ASIA
Fantasia
Live in Tokyo
I admit being a bit late to the party on this double-live CD set, but it's worth the wait. The four founding fathers of ASIA have regrouped and set upon a staggering world tour, which includes stops in Europe at this writing, and the USA beginning in April 2008.
The joy of this album is hearing the hits (Heat of the Moment, Wildest Dreams, etc.) done by the guys who gave birth to them. And they guys are all right. Steve Howe is ripping on lead guitar, Geoff Downs is stellar on keyboards, Carl Palmer is ageless on drums and lead vocalist John Wetton really shows his bass guitar chops (much more dramatic and punctuated than on any studio album) and his singing is good to excellent.
The even greater joy of this collection sneaks up on you however. The boys do a respectful and retrospective job of delivering songs from their previous groups.
Roundabout opens with flawless Howe guitar licks first on acoustic and then seamlessly on electric, and Wetton does an honest night's work on the lead vocal, not trying to emulate Jon Anderson (of Yes of course), but making the song his own and clearly enjoying it. Fanfare For The Common Man takes on a more gripping and driving feel than when Emerson Lake and Palmer put it on vinyl all those years ago. If there are only fair renditions, they would be both Video Killed the Radio Star and In the Court of The Crimson King (from the Buggles and King Crimson respectively of course). Yet even these semi-obscure tunes to a casual fan, are very enjoyable and clearly the Original Asia has fun with them, as did the appreciative crowd.
This collection is also available with the same music but more content in DVD form. I have seen snippets of the DVD on line, and have to say it's worth a look. But my review of the CD set stands alone. It's a great experience, even for the Common Man and Woman.
BOTTOM LINE: 4/5 stars...and keep rockin' Asia....I hope to catch you in the USA in a few months...stay tuned.
Zeph, out
