Progressive Rock Review: Asia-Axis XXX Live In San Francisco

Release Date: 22^nd June 2015

Label:  Frontiers music

Website 

This is a recording produced by the original line-up of the band, Asia, when they toured in support of the album XXX, released back in 2012.The venue for the recording was the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco and the date was the 7^th November 2012.

The four members of the band were John Wetton (bass, vocals), Carl Palmer (drums), Steve Howe (guitars) and Geoff Downes (keyboards).

This is the band’s 23rd live album, if the information to be gleaned from  progarchives.com is to be believed. Axis XXX Live In San Franscisco is a 2 disc release with a total playing time a few seconds over the 2 hour mark, (120:21), and comprises 19 tracks. Disc 1 has 12 tracks including the obligatory “Introduction” and has a running time of 62:50 minutes with the second disc, 7 tracks and a slightly shorter playing time of 57:31 minutes. The longest track on offer is found on disc 2, “ Holy War-Drum Solo” at 15:03 minutes and the shortest track is “Pyramidolog,” on disc 1 with a playing time of 3:26 minutes.

The recording concentrates on the earlier albums, although it was headlined as the Axis XXX tour, with 10 of the 19 tracks coming from the first album, Asia in 1982 (7 tracks) and second album, Alpha in 1983 (3 tracks). The only other album to be “plundered” in any way is XXX, from 2012, with 3 tracks. An odd inclusion to my mind is a track taken from the solo album release by Steve Howe in 2001, Natural Timbre.

After the fairly low-key introduction, which is simply the music prior to and during the band entering the stage, as evidenced by the clapping/cheering that starts up part way through. Once ready, the band burst into life with 2 classic tracks from the debut album, Asia, now 33 years old, “Only Time Will Tell” (5:22) and “Wildest Dreams” (6:02) and follow this duo with a track from the 2012, XXX album, “Face On The Bridge” (6:01). All four members of the band are excellent as you would expect from such seasoned musicians, and the power still present in the voice of John Wetton is amazing.

The band then run through a selection of material, which tends to form the bulk of their live shows, so there are no real surprises. “Pyramidology” (3:27) and “Golden Mean” (4:11) allow Steve Howe to highlight his acoustic guitar playing, which most people are well aware of, and then the band pull together for another track from the XXX album in the form of “I Know How You Feel” (5:50).

Whilst the album, Axis XXX is not going to “set the heather alight” and shift shedloads of copies, it is a very competent, satisfying release. If there is anything to flag up as a negative, it is simply the lack of the surprise factor, with the playlist being firmly planted in “safe” tracks, and a similarity to other live recordings by the band.

For Asia fans, this will be an essential purchase, but I am not convinced that this issue will add to the number of Asia fans. In the same manner as the album started with a “bang,” it concludes in a similar manner with the rousing pairing of “Sole Survivor” (7:24) and “Heat Of The Moment” (7:55).

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Only Time Will Tell, Tomorrow The World, Heat Of The Moment

Tracks:

Disc 1:

Introduction
Only Time Will Tell
Wildest Dreams
Face On The Bridge
Time Again
Tomorrow The world
Ride Easy
Pyramidology
Golden Mean
I Know How You Feel
Don’t Cry
Smile has left Your Eyes

Disc 2:
Cutting It Fine
Holy War-Drum Solo
Extraordinary Life
Here Comes The feeling
Open Your Eyes
Sole Survivor

Heat Of The Moment

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

November 30, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Prog/Art Rock Review: Anathema-Distant Satellites

Release Date: June 10, 2014 
Label: KScope

Website

Starting out as a death/doom metal band back in 1990, Anathema has undergone a drastic evolution to the band that has just released Distant Satellites, album number 10. The debut album was released in 1993, entitled Serenades, and the previous studio album to this one was released in 2012, entitled Weather Systems. Between that release and the new album, I reviewed the live release, Universal, issued in 2013.

At the time of recording Distant Satellites, Anathema comprised 6 members, the Cavanagh brothers, Vincent (voice, guitar, vocoder), Danny (guitar, keyboards, voice) and Jamie (bass) together with the Douglas siblings, Lee (vocals) and John (drums) and Daniel Cardosa (keyboards, drums). Daniel Cardosa was a touring member of the band, but became a full member in 2012.

Distant Satellites is a 10 track album with a playing time nudging an hour in length (58 minutes).The longest offering on the album is the title track “Distant Satellites” with a running time of 8:36 minutes and “Firelight” is the shortest track at 2:49 minutes.

The opening track to Distant Satellites, “The Lost Song Part 1” (6:07), is the first of a three part track and enters with strings and keyboards before some frantic drumming ushers in the voice of Vincent Cavanagh. Vincent possesses a very powerful voice and it is ably backed up on this track by the crystal clear voice of Lee Douglas. The track powers along with insistent piano, drumming and layers of guitar adding the icing on the cake, so to speak. My problem with this opening track is that it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. The track builds in intensity, but there is no real shift in the music, it is the same from start to finish and I really wanted it to have some direction.

The second track, “The Lost Song Part 2” (6:01) has a gentle piano start before Lee Douglas takes center stage in a more angst ballad track. The band join in and the track moves along with some sections of building sound before the music drops away and gently makes an exit. This is a different style from the opener, but without that “je ne sais quoi” that pulls a listener into the music. “The Lost Song Part 3,” which is a few tracks further into the album, is more up-tempo and a return to Vincent on lead vocals. Drums and bass are the driving lynchpins of this track which again possesses an insistent piano theme. The guitar is a bit more prominent from time to time, but again I have that feeling that the track starts and ends, and when it does, any melody has just slipped out of my mind.

Named after the band, track 6, “Anathema” (6:56) is more of a slow burner before crescendo-ing into a superb violin, then guitar, passage. A good track without any doubt which leads into a track, “You’re Not Alone” (3:25), which I found a little out of place and seems to run the gamut of various styles in the short time it exists.

“Firelight” (2:49) is another track which seemed a bit “odd,” in that it seems to be nothing more than an instrumental bridge, utilizing church style organ, between the tracks “You’re Not Alone” and “Distant Satellites.” The title track (8:36) has a programmed drum feel about it with that superb voice from Vincent over the top and again I felt was one of the best tracks on offer.

The final track “Take Shelter” (6:18) has a more ethereal voiced Vincent over a subdued piano with some beautiful violin over the top. Some more programmed drumming, very similar to the last track, puts in a muted appearance but bursts into life as the song starts to increase in intensity, ultimately giving in to a full band workout. The last minute is a very poignant exit to a violin theme.

I struggled with this review of Distant Satellites as I genuinely do not dislike the album, it is just that at no point does the hand burst from the speakers, grab me by the throat and yell, “You will listen to this!” While the music on offer is played by skilled musicians, I felt that the spark required to ignite the album just wasn’t to be found.

Anathema followers will be eager to add Distant Satellites to their collections, but I am not convinced that this album will attract newer listeners to the band. As always, this is a very personal view, so give Distant Satellites a few listens to decide if you want to make a small space on your CD shelves.

3.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Anathema, Distant Satellites, Take Shelter

Tracks: 

The Lost Song Part 1
The Lost Song Part 2
Dusk (Dark is Descending)
Ariel
The Lost Song Part 3
Anathema
You’re Not Alone
Firelight
Distant Satellites
Take Shelter

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

August 5, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk