The original "ASIA"'s brand-new studio recording album entitled "Phoenix" will be released coming spring! Here is the official press release of Frontiers Records.
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Frontiers Records is honoured to present the European release of ASIA come back studio album “Phoenix” on April 11th 2008 !
Geoffrey Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton, the four original members reunited in 2006, twenty-three years after all four had last played together. The much publicised reunion resulted in two highly successful world tours in 2006 and 2007; an acclaimed double live LP and DVD, (entitled “Fantasia: Live In Tokyo”); and an overwhelming response from fans and the media, which continues today.Starting from the summer 2007, Geoff, Steve, Carl and John have been busy in the studio recording their brand new CD "Phoenix", the first studio album from the band's members since 1983. Eagerly anticipated by fans all over the world, "Phoenix" contains an eclectic selection of songs bound by the unique Asia trade mark.
Decades later, as if by destiny, the four of us are still here doing the one thing we are most passionate about - making music. The result of our latest endeavours is our new album, "Phoenix", says Geoff Downes
"Phoenix" has been influenced by the same fusion of talents and heritages which so excited the world in 1982 and has a very poignant underlying theme placed at the intersection of love, discovery and reflection, no doubt due, at least partly, to Wetton’s unexpected triple by-pass heart surgery which forced the cancellation of ASIA’s 2007 West Coast North American tour and an eagerly anticipated tour of the United Kingdom. Based on such personal events John was inspired to write "An Extraordinary Life", making the concept of Carpe Diem dramatically pertinent.
The album is a very adult, deep album both lyrically and musically and shows the development the individuals have gone through during their time apart pursuing other ventures” says Carl Palmer. “With songs like An Extraordinary Life and Alibis one can see the very strong English rock/pop/progressive style the group still retains. Lyrically the album is deep, to the point and highly personal. Coupled with the expertise and musicianship you have the band Asia”.
The new record include rockers such as "Never Again" (the first single) and "Nothing's Forever", power ballads such as "Heroine" and "I Will Remember You" and two mini-epics too, among a dozen new songs which presents all themes the band is very well known for. Steve Howe says: “This has been no ordinary reunion, the dates went well, the audiences have been encouraging as we have gone peacefully about our work. This new CD was really an enormous test, a challenge worthy of our intent. All the distractions usually evident vapourised, as we focused on collaborating to select and arrange these new songs, all in the style of “Asia ". Just 3 months later, the recordings demonstrate that professionalism, pleasure and hard work can go hand in hand with musical adventures, long may we revel!”. “We are neither over-confident, nor unsure of our ground. Each one of us is comfortable as a hu
man being, and the sound on the CD "Phoenix" finally reflects the collective maturity of these four people who are not only eager to explore, but also relaxed enough to luxuriate in the strength of the material", adds John Wetton, while Downes concludes “The 12 song collection seeks to transport the listener on a musical journey, sharing our own personal thoughts, emotions and experiences along the way. The CD sleeve is adorned with an exquisite Roger Dean painting depicting the Phoenix in ascendancy. Enjoy the ride!” The cd will also include an EPK playable on all computers, featuring video footage with interviews and live recordings.
“Phoenix” final tracklisting will include:
Heroine
Sleeping Giant / No Way Back / Reprise
Alibis
I Will Remember You
Parallel Worlds / Vortex / Deya
Wish I’d Known All Along
Orchard of Mines
Over and Over
Includes: Electronic Press Kit playable on all computers
An Extraordinary Life [acoustic]*
* Bonus track only available on a Limited edition in slipcase
“Phoenix” will be released by Frontiers Records on April 11th with King Records handling the release in Japan. More domestic releases (including USA, Brazil, Korea,Argentina, Russia and Taiwan) are planned at the moment with details to be released at a later stage.
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Marilyn Scott's Japan-only new studio CD has arrived! The album entitled "Every Time We Say Goodbye" features 10 American standard songs with a bunch of stellar jazz musicians. Marilyn spent 3 days in New York City in late August 2007 recording this straight-ahead 4 beat jazz vocal album only for Japan. You might remember that Marilyn released an album "Nightcap" in 2004, covering eight jazz standards such as "Stardust", and if you love "Nightcap" album, this is another one for you.
Jeff Porcaro must be the world's greatest drummer of 20th Century. Born on April 1, 1954, Jeff appeared on many greatest albums as well as his main works with TOTO before he was obliged to stop drumming on August 5, 1992 due to a fatal and unexpected heart attack. Among of the hundreds of albums Jeff palyed on, most popular ones were probably Boz Scaggs' "Silk Degrees", Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and/or Bruce Springsteen's "Human Touch" in general. On March 5, Sony Music Japan will proudly release a compilation album entitled "Jeff Porcaro Session Works" , which includes 17 songs featuring Jeff Porcaro on drums, commemorating forthcoming TOTO's Japan tour with Boz Scaggs in Match. Those songs included are all of essential and very basic collection of songs Jeff played. And due to the restriction of the label, all of songs are taken only from Sony Music's vault. Thus, many essential session works of Jeff are missing such as "Gaucho" performed with Steely Dan in 1980. I hope that the other major labels will follow this compilation.
Mark T. Williams has just released his 7th solo effort as the ablum entitled "11:11" featuring 13 songs, under the name of "Lionel's Dad" as usual. Some are very experimental and/or very rough-edged, and some are of quality. I would recommend you to listen to the second track "I Long For You", well-produced mid tempo ballad type song, reminding you of his young brother, Joseph Williams. The following "On A Holiday" would be worth listening. After the long lead-in with sax and guitar, mid-80's vein good Mark's vocal would follow. You must not ignore the track # 6. Yes, "Top Down Girl" written with and originally performed by his young brother on Joseph's album "3". Funky powerful rock tune "I Waited" would be a decent song. 
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