ASIA FEATURING JOHN PAYNE - MILITARY MAN (EP)

Don't be fooled by my seemingly low rating, this is indeed a great CD-single/EP and a very promising first studio release under the name 'ASIA featuring John Payne'. But given the fact that it is a single and that all of its three full tracks (not counting the two unnecessary radio edits) are re-recordings of songs that are available elsewhere it is almost per definition a fans and collectors only item. I normally don't rate singles and EP's at all unless they contain at least some material that is not available elsewhere and this present single is clearly a borderline case.

The A-side of this single is a 2009 version of Military Man, a song that originally appeared on Asia's 1994 studio album Aria. This version is every bit as good as the original one, but offers nothing new for those who have that album. It is a real Rock anthem co-written by John Payne and Geoff Downes, and Payne is obviously proud of it. The B-side is a 2009 version of Long Way From Home, originally from 2004's Silent Nation. Again an anthem co-written by Payne and Downes. The C-side is Asia's 2009 version of Erik Norlander's Neurosaur, a great and triumphant keyboard instrumental that originally appeared on Norlander's first solo album Threshold, released in 1997.

The line-up here consists of John Payne on vocals and bass, Erik Norlander on keyboards, Guthrie Govan on guitars, and Jay Schellen on drums. The latter two have since moved on, but Payne and Norlander are currently working on the first full length album of ASIA featuring John Payne. And if the quality of this single is anything to go by, it looks promising. Hopefully, Erik Norlander can inject some much needed Prog-spirit into this version of Asia.