AXIOMS

"Axioms" (note the lack of the usual "A" at the end of the title!) gathers together a large number of tracks from three Downes/Payne Asia albums, "Aqua" (1992), "Aria" (1994), and "Arena" (1996). Also included are two new tracks recorded by the same line up for their "Anthology" collection. Be aware though that the early Asia albums which featured Wetton, Howe and Palmer are completely overlooked.

Personally, I enjoy the albums from which these track come immensely. They contain powerful melodic rock, with strong vocals and excellent production. Admittedly, there is little true prog here, being kind this could be labelled pop prog, but no more. The nine minute "The day before the war" from "Arena" is the closest they get to being progressive, but what they do best is the short sharp bursts of power rock on tracks such as "Feels like love" and "Desire". Given that more than fifty per cent of each of the source albums is included here, there are some obvious omissions. For example, space should have been found for "Someday" ("Aqua") and "Enough's enough" ("Aria"), two of Asia's best tracks from the period.

"Axioms" tends to sell at a very low price for a double CD collection. To some extent, you get what you pay for though, and I would recommend the original studio albums before this rather haphazard collection.

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