Geoffrey Downes, John Wetton - Icon
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Artist: Geoffrey Downes, John WettonEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-07-25
Music Label: Renaissance
Soundtracks:
- Overture: Paradox
- Let Me Go
- God Walks with Us
- I Stand Alone
- Meet Me at Midnight
- Hey Josephine
- Far Away
- Please Change Your Mind
- Sleep Angel
- Spread Your Wings
- In the End
- There In Your Bed
- The Smile Has Left Your Eyes '05
- Heat of the Moment '05
Free Music Notes for Icon
Free Music Review: Asia Redux? Not Quite.
Hit: 4 Stars
As much as I enjoy the John Payne Asia albums, there's nothing quite like those early Wetton/Downes Asia collaborations. It goes beyond Wetton's unique voice or Downes's keyboard work. Something about this pair's collaborations always results in some truly memorable music.
Whenever these two musicians come together, you have to take notice. Icon is everything you'd expect from two of the four founders of Asia, but at the same time not what you'd expect. With Icon, Wetton and Downes leave behind much of the early Asia albums' pop sensibility in favor of a more progressive approach. It's not as catchy, but there is a more complex, more emotional feel to the music that brings to mind recent albums by Dare and Marillion. The fact that the pair is supported on this album by members of modern progressive rock bands like Jadis and Kino adds to this overall feeling. There are still moments that sound like vintage Asia, but Icon is definitely not a case of "business as usual".
It goes without saying that Icon will please long time Asia fans, but it's far more than just a throwback album. Icon is a remarkably strong album that most fans of modern progressive rock (as well as AOR and melodic rock) are almost certain to enjoy.
Their work on Icon appears to be a factor behind the recent reformation of the original Asia lineup earlier this year. I'm not exactly happy about the unceremonious dumping of John Payne (whose fine debut with GPS picks up right where Asia's Silent Nation left off), but at the same time I have to wonder what the classic lineup has in store.
PS - Am I the only one who thinks the verses to "I Stand Alone" sound uncannily similar to Ozzy Osbourne's "I Just Want You"? I won't tell Sharon if you won't!
NOTE: The 2006 reissue of Icon features two bonus tracks - new versions of the Asia staples "the Smile Has Left Your Eyes" and "Heat of the Moment". They're neat to hear, but with countless recordings of these songs on the market, there's no real reason to run out and replace your 2005 version of Icon.
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