ARIA

Second CD of Asia with John Payne on vocals, with a now stable line up (in comes Michael Sturgis, replacing Carl Palmer). This album did not quite pleased me as much as its precedor Aqua. The production is very dated: its fat sound reminding me too much of the 80´s. It´s my only complaint, though, since the album has the usual excellent songwriting standards and the brilliant perfomances of all involved. it´s certainly heavier than before, while totally in the AOR/melodic rock mode. The combination of power playing (enhanced by Al Pitrelli´s obvious tendency for metal and the hard hitting Sturgis), absolutely excellent keyboards (Downes in fine form here!) and very nice melodies make songs like Summer, Remembrance Day and Enough´s Enough quite memorable and captivating. The ballad Feels Like Love is also helped by the new, thunderous sound.

Payne´s voice may a bit too much of the kind, but so what? The guy does know how to do the job right. And if you´re and AOR fan, you just can´t miss this one. Geoff Downes makes all the different in the style, and he is responsible for the best and most progressive touches in the CD, with very tasteful interventions.

Once again I must not give this CD more than 3 stars here since the album has little progressiveness in it. But be warned: quality wise, for a melodic rock album, this is a 4 or even 5 stars affair. Quite addictive, in fact.