XXX

The third release from the group's original 1980s line-up since their 2008 comeback album 'Phoenix', the worryingly titled 'XXX'(designed to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary but looking much more like something you'd find adorning a hardcore porn movie) finds the quartet of Howe, Downes, Wetton and Palmer reeling off another slickly-produced set of pop-prog tunes in a similar style to their huge-selling 1982 debut and it's subsequent follow-ups. One of those rock groups who divide opinion rather intensely, Asia have, over the years, provided a simplistic pop outlet for it's members whilst also proving commercially very lucrative. Whilst the quartet's progressive pedigree is virtually untouchable, the actual musical content of Asia's albums is anything but. 'XXX', with it's mournful vocals, big choruses, catchy rhythms and retro-styled synthesizers, provides more of the same for the groups legion of fans, yet precious little for genuine prog-rock lovers. The rocky 'No Religion' aside then, this is very much standard AOR fare. You have been warned. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012