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Asia: Aqua

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s

Artist: Asia
Title: Aqua
Released: 1992
Label: Snapper Music
Time: 50:15
Producer(s): Geoffrey Downes
Appears with:
Category: Pop/Rock
Rating: *****..... (5/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  2001.06.15
Price in €: 10,01
Web address: www.asiaworld.org

 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Aqua, Part One (Downes/Howes/Payne) - 2:27
[2] Who Will Stop the Rain? (Downes/Warman/Woolfender) - 4:35
[3] Back in Town (Downes/Payne) - 4:09
[4] Love Under Fire (Downes/Lake) - 5:15
[5] Someday (Downes/Warman) - 5:48
[6] Little Rich Boy (Downes/Payne) - 4:37
[7] the Voice of Reason (Downes/Payne) - 5:37
[8] Lay Down Your Arms (Downes/Hart/Payne) - 4:14
[9] Crime of the Heart (Downes/Warman) - 5:57
[10] A Far Cry (Downes/Hart/Mitchell/Payne) - 5:30
[11] Don't Call Me (Downes/Warman) - 4:55
[12] Heaven on Earth (Nye/Payne) - 4:54
[13] Aqua, Part Two (Downes/Payne) - 2:14

Bonus Track:
[14] Obsession (Payne/Rodford) - 4:56

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


STEVE HOWE - Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, Guitar, Mandolin, Pedal Steel Guitar, 12-string Guitar
JOHN PAYNE - Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals
GEOFFREY DOWNES - Keyboards, Background Vocals
CARL PALMER - Percussion, Drums

SIMON PHILLIPS - Drums
NIGEL GLOCKLER - Drums
ANTHONY GLYNNE - Guitar
AL PITRELLI - Guitar, Rhythm Guitar

PETE CRAIGIE - Engineer
MIKE DRAKE - Engineer
GREGG JACKMAN - Engineer
MARK WILLIE - Engineer
JOHN BRAND - Mixing
ANDREW GREASLY - Assistant Engineer
MARK ROBINSON - Assistant Engineer
STEVE RUSH - Assistant Engineer
HUGH SYME - Design
ROGER DEAN - Paintings, Logo Design
BRIAN BURROWS - Cover Design, Typography
RODNEY MATTHEWS - Illustrations

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1994 CD Rhino 71833
1992 CD JRS 35819-2
1992 CD Great Pyramid 3333-35819-2
1998 CD Original Masters 521
1998 CD RCA 35819
1992 CS JRS 35819-4



Their latest release for a new label is noticeably missing the vocal work of former bassist John Wetton. Carl Palmer, Steve Howe, and Geoff Downes are still on hand, producing more of their brand of slick, smooth rock. It's reminiscent of the revamped Bad Company.

Scott Bultman, All-Music Guide, © 1992 - 2001 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



Bevor die Fans glauben, die Rock-Dinos von Asia gäbe es nicht mehr: Geoff Downes und John Payne sind unternehmungslustig und legen drei ihrer Alben neu auf - mit je einem Bonustrack. Die 1992 noch mit Drummer Carl Palmer und Gitarrist Steve Howe eingespielte CD "Aqua" bietet soliden Mainstream-Rock und eingängige Songs. Der Nachfolger "Aria" (SMM CD 523; 02/03-04) versucht, dünne Ideen mit pompösen Arrangements aufzuwiegen. Und "Arena" (SMM CD 522; 1996; 02/04) kupfert bei Steely Dan ab. ** Musik: 02-03

© Audio



Kunst-Cover, Bombast-Sound mit mächtigen Klanggewölben und peppige Rhythmen kennzeichnen noch immer den Stil der Super-Gruppe Asia. Zehn Jahre nach dem überaus erfolgreichen Debüt hält sich "Aqua" an dieses Konzept, gerät dabei in Songs wie "Little Rich Boy" in musikalische und textliche Untiefen, kann sich aber dank Pop-Perlen wie "Who Will Stop the Rain" und der wunderbar inszenierten Akustikballade "The Voice Of Reason" auf achtbares Niveau verbessern. Mehr unter die Rubrik Geheimtip fällt das Debüt des Kanadiers Stan Meissner. "Undertow" (IRS 974.477, AAD, 44:42, I:07, K:07, R:05) bringt gefälligen Mainstream-Rock, der besonders in balladesken Songs wie "River Of Fire" oder "When I Look In Your Eyes" an die Ohrwurmqualitäten eines Richard Marx heranreicht. Der quirlige Rock- Vierer Firehouse schürt mit seiner zweiten Aufnahme "Hold The Fire" (Epic/Sony 469 220 2, AAD, 51:38, I:05-07, K:07, R:05) das von dem erfolgreichen Erstling entfachte Feuer weiter. Und selbst Balladen wie "Hold The Dream" protzen mit überladenen Sound-Wänden und fetten Chören, die zum Mitsingen einladen. Der Sohn des verstorbenen Led-Zeppelin- Schlagzeugers John Bonham, Jason Bonham, geht mit Effekten sparsamer um. Er orientiert sich auf "Mad Hatter" (Epic/Sony 469 455 2, AAD, 57:46, I:05-07, K:05-06, R:05) am Vorbild der Zeps. Der Sänger der Band, Daniel MacMaster, phrasiert in manchen Nummern wie ein Robert Plant jr. ** Interpret.: 05-07

© Stereoplay



Gigantische CD

Gigantische Arangements, super Gitarre, super Rythmus, perfektes Zusammenspiel der Band. Sprichwörtlich - einfach Perfekt - !!!!!!!

schweizermanuela@aol.com aus Babenhausen,Hessen,BRD , 2. Juni 2000



Asia bieten gewohnte Qualität

Zu der CD läßt sich sagen, daß leider nicht alle Titel sich wirklich von anderen Melodic/Rock-Songs anderer Bands, die sich in gleichen musikalischen Gefilden bewegen, abheben. ABER: "Who will stop the rain" ist meiner Meinung nach eine DER Rockhymnen der letzten Jahre und sollte für den Freund gut gespielter und produzierter Mucke dieser Art einfach Pflicht sein.

clemensdojo@t-online.de aus München , 18. April 2000



Asia - Aqua

Auch diese CD von Asia hat wie immer ein ganz tolles und abgefahrenes Cover. In diesem Fall, passend zum Name, etwas von einer Aquawelt. Ein fliegender Delphin vor einer Weltraumkulisse. Und musikalisch fängt es auch genau so an. Die Melodie des ersten Liedes „Aqua part1" kennt man. Ist aus einem nicht unbekanntem Film. Aber gleich im zweiten Titel geht es weiter mit dem typischen Sound von ASIA. Auch der bekannte Sänger, diesmal unterstützt von einem kleinen Chor. Und auch hier zeigt sich wieder die Fähigkeit der Gruppe, vein grosses Zielpublikum anzusprechen.

Der Nachteil dabei ist das (weitgehende) Fehlen von völlig eigenständigen experimalen Teilen. Nur in wenigen Stücken kommt einmal der Mut zu solchen Passagen heraus. Auch insgesamt ist die „AQUA" eine der langsameren CD´s der Band. Bekannt auf dieser Scheibe vielleicht noch am ehesten „Lay down your arms" oder auch „Heaven on Earth".

Für Freunde von gut gemachtem Rock mit langsamerem Grundton ist diese CD durchaus zu empfehlen

Christoph Sprengard FB: Medizin sprec000@mail.uni-mainz.de aus Mainz , 18. November 1999



The Band's Best

Dismissed by many as being "pop-metal" or "not really Asia", Aqua is actually my favorite Asia album. Are the lyrics cheesy? Pretty much. But no more than early 80's Asia w/ Wetton on Vocals. This Asia album is basically the work of Geoff Downes and new singer/bassist, John Payne. Payne's vocals are quite different than Wetton's but they compliment Downes' excellent choices in keyboard sounds nicely. Carl Palmer guests on a few tracks but it is hard to tell which ones. However, Steve Howe can be heard on about a third of the tracks and these remain the best tracks on the album. "Aqua Pt.1" and "The Voice Of Reason" definitely rank among Asia's best and the rest of the songs have melodies that will remain with you for a very long time.

Kevin Caffrey from Long Island, NY, May 23, 2000



One of Asia's Best

I've always admired this album ever since I got it a few years ago. It's my favorite Asia album with "Astra" being a close second. Even though vocalist John Payne sounds quite different than former vocalist John Wetton, I never felt that this hurt the second incarnation of Asia. The songs and musicanship on "Aqua" are great. Keyboardist Geoff Downes is in top form and his synth solo on "Someday" used to really hit me with its emotion. "Love Under Fire" is a great ballad. "Back in Town" sounds a bit out of place, but still it's an okay tune. Aqua is one of Asia's best albums and I definitely recommend it.

Blake from Norcross , May 26, 1999



A Weak Start for the "New" Asia

The is the first of the "New" Asia CDs with John Payne taking over for the wonderful John Wetton. Payne is certainly not Wetton. While Payne has gotten better by leaps and bounds as the "New" Asia has progressed, he clearly didn't seem to be the guy for the group when this album came out. The writting chemestry on the album is also flawed. What was Geoff Downes thinking about with some of the songs? I really wanted to like this album. And, it is really hard to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with it. But, lets just name a few of the major problems with it: 1) Some of the songs just don't flow right (like "Heaven on Earth" - What is up with the weird vocal thing right in the middle of the song; the guitar too - it doesn't work!) 2) Some of the stuff is just downright boring - "Aqua Parts I and II", "Love Under Fire", "The Voice of Reason". You'll never hear this live. This stuff would put the audience to sleep and 3) The group didn't know what direction to point the songs in. Should it be prog pop? (like "Lay Down Your Arms"), bubblegum metal (like "Back In Town" with its laughable motorcycle intro), or should they try to keep the traditional Asia sound going (like the slow pot-boiler rock ballad "Crimes of the Heart"). Except for a few songs on the album (the wonderful "Someday", "Don't Call Me", and "Who Will Stop the Rain"), the group sounds like it is still in the experimentation stage. Get "Aria" or "Arena" or any of the 80's stuff instead if you want to get a better idea of how great the group really is.

WAYNE EIKNER from SHREVPORT, LA United States, March 24, 2001



Probably my favorite Asia album.

This album is great,and from the last material that Asia has released I think this is the best,it's much more melodic than Arena and Aria,which were pretty good but this one beats them on the melodic aspect because it has much more fluidity,and a better sound overall. On this album there is a more relaxed 80's feel impregnated in the songs that gives you a pleasant audio experience. and to make it complete there's also an excellent ballad; "Crimes of the Heart" which has become probably one of my all time asia favorite songs.It really isn't needed more words to describe this album as to those alredy said,if you liked Aria or Arena you will DEFENITELY want this one on your collection,and if you're simply an AOR fan then you're recommended to get this one ,I'm sure youll enjoy it.

moonknight_of_twilight from Argentina, September 14, 2000
 

 L y r i c s


WHO WILL STOP THE RAIN?

This problem is insoluble
The answers seem impossible
The logic ceases to exist
Emotion is the beat we miss

I stand on a world
Where dreams, realities, existence are the same
We take from the mother's skin
But the world is not to blame


Who tells the wind which way to blow?
I wonder who will stop the rain
The rocks that hold the secrets, they don't know
So who can stop the rain?
We've lost the path for all we know
Now tell me when will it start again?
And as the old man lifts his hands
Please can you stop the rain?

Stars fall far away
Like they never did before
A new moon shining
Like it never will again

Desert white cloud
Spirits they sing
Rain falls from the big sky
Onto broken wing

There is no sense in turning back
To wash the debris from the track
World without fears without rhyme
We fought for peace within our time


LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS

We used to live in a better world
Where sky and water were free
We point the finger
We point the gun
Is that the way it should be?

We rape the land
And we tear the skin
Burn the blood In the stone
To fuel the fire of a selfish mind
Do you want to live here alone?

Lay down your arms - surrender
You know you'll never get out of here
Lay down your arms - remember
No force - you'd better lay down your gun

Such are the sins of humanity
Dark is the air that we breathe
A war to hide in society
Don't close your eyes to deceive

Too many promises
Too may tears
Where does the future lie
If we burn away the years

We can make this a better world
Where sky and water are free
So give the hand without the gun
That's the way it will be


HEAVEN ON EARTH

I am caught in the heat
Hold your head as you sleep
How can I close my eyes watching you
Such a fever inside from emotions within
Burning the night with the truth

Sweetest poison - positive attraction
Raging in my mind

Oh if you walk away
You'll take the life from me
Oh if you walk away
You'll take the air I breathe
Life would be lonely
More than you'll ever know
'Cos you've put all heaven on earth

I hear the sound of your voice
On the breach of the wind
I feel the touch of an angel
Next to my skin
It cuts so deep inside
It draws out the life
Harder with every time

Sweetest poison - positive attraction
Raging in my mind


SOMEDAY

Don't want to live in another world
Don't want to dream of another girl
That's the way it was meant to be

I couldn't sleep through the lonely night
I just cried till the morning
It's not the way it was meant to be


Someday you may find somebody else
Someday love my shine on you
Someday you may find the one

You didn't leave me, you ran away
Couldn't face what you had to say
It's not the way it was meant to be

Now you can live in your other world
Me, i've found me another girl
And that's the way it was meant to be

When I dream, I dream of one world
But I know there's no such place
If I could ever find that one girl
In my world, in my world


CRIME OF THE HEART

Dreams that have melted now frozen like statues
Under the surface here lies the unknown
Love has a way of disguising its purpose
Seeing your pain my hand goes out to you

You should have known better than to trust him
How the pain shines through your eyes

Nothing hits harder than a crime of the heart
It breaks you up and it tears you apart
You just want to die, you've been so abused
Now you know how it feels to be used
Nothing hurts harder than a crime of the heart
I'm such a fool, I should have known from the start
I saw it coming and I feel i'm to blame
But love don't give in

I watch your face as you stare into distance
Eyes filled with tears that look so far away
Deep in your heart can you feel a resistance?
Love it just happens there's no-one to blame

You should have known better than to sacrifice
The stained-glass soul you hide

Nothing hits harder than a crime of the heart
It's the kind of feeling that pulls you apart
There's no where to run, there's nothing to say
You never knew that you could feel this way
Nothing hurts harder than a crime of the heart
I could have told you he was wrong from the start
I'm not guilty, but I feel i'm to blame
My love won't give in

Crime of the heart


A FAR CRY

In the dead of night
On the wings of the wind
I hear the ocean bell
With a flash of light
In the beat of the dark
The sound I know so well

I shall never forget you
It's been so long
I should never have left you
The call so strong

It's a far cry from a wild world
It want to get back to you
Such a long road, to the homeland
I must make my way to a far cry

From the chords of the earth
To the depths of the sea
I will return
As I look to the hill
Through the eyes of the storm
I touch the flame

I shall never forget you
It's been so long
I should never have left you
The call so strong

It's such a far cry


BACK IN TOWN

Wheels turn - smoke rise
Chrome wings - low ride
Freeway - red line
To city lights electric I glide
If there's escape from your illusion
You gotta break the whole constitution

Concrete - touch sky
Main street - dogs lie
Steel bird - black tie
Is this what they call the freedom you buy?
Look at him behind the delusion
All you hear is the voice of confusion

The bad boy's back
The bad boy's back in town
The bad boy's back
Don't you shoot him down

Wheels spin - ace high
No win - no life
One world - truth lies
Love's just a word on a red neon sign
If there's escape from the conclusion
You gotta shake the whole institution

If there's escape from your illusion
You gotta break the whole constitution


DON'T CALL ME

You know I'll never understand your reasons
I gave you all the love that I could give
Now i'm sitting on a plane to take me far away
I've got to find a new place to live

It used to feel so good when you stood beside me
How can you forget the words you said?
Things like: I'm gonna stay with you forever
Will always echo in my head

Don't call me, don't call me, no more

If this plane ride lasts forever
I couldn't quite get over you
We spent too much time together
I can't believe we're through

Don't call me, don't call me, no more


LOVE UNDER FIRE

Love under fire
We stand in the flame
Now and forever
After the rain
When is forever?
You can take it from me
It may be never
C'est la vie

Love under fire
And we stand in the flame
Now and forever
After the rain
When is forever?
You can take it from me
It may be never
Just wait and see

You can hide in the jungle
You can climb up a tree
You can scan the horizon
Tell me what you see?
As cold as a mountain
With a heart that can freeze
There's a storm on the water
With every heart that she seas

Love under fire


THE VOICE OF REASON

Nothing ventured nothing gained
Tired and washed out by the pain
Do we share this problem, will it slip away?
Or do we fight another day?
Was I looking for a friend?
One I could on 'til the end
Is there something that I didn't do?
Does it all begin with you?

So how did I, Oh I
Give you reason?
But how did I, Oh I
Give you reason?

After all the fallen tears
When we wake the token dream
Who let the water slowly draw away?
All the colours we made

To give you reason, to change the river's flow
To give you reason, to point the bone
To give you reason, to set your spirit free
I don't know, I don't know why

Is there nothing I can say?
Is there nothing I can do, girl?
Didn't mean to break your life
Didn't mean to burn your world, no

You can keep the silver band
You can have the memories, girl
Now as 'Pilate' cleans the hands
It's no more to do with me, no

So how did I, Oh I
Give you reason?
Let's the voice of reason say:


LITTLE RICH BOY

Don't read "Marx"
He's a clean cut guy
Just the dream
On a TV eye
If you swim
In the dark
You lose a hand
When you feed the shark

Little rich boy, she's gonna find you
Little rich boy
Little rich boy, those claws will blind you
Just a little rich boy

She got hooks
In your veins
Feel the pleasure
Kill the pain
Drop a pearl
See the dragon fly
Crack the diamond
Do you still feel high?

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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