JOHN WETTON & GEOFFREY DOWNES – ICON – HEAT OF THE RISING SUN [2CD] (2012)
Two CD live release from this side project led by Asia members John Wetton and Geoff Downes.The concerts included four gigs in Japan, which took place in Fukuoka (February 7), Osaka (February 9), concluding with two performances in Tokyo, on February 11 and 12.
Happy to return to Japan after their successful sold out 2007/08 tours of the country with the reunion of the four original members of Asia and their sold out tours with the Wetton/Downes’ Icon project in prior years, Wetton and Downes decided to record the performances for subsequent release of an ‘Icon’ double disc live collection.
This album marks the return of the partnership that provided so successful for Asia in the 80’s. There will doubtless be a lot of interest in this album and rightly so. Geoff Downes did guest on John Wetton’s last solo album ‘Rock Of Faith’ but now we get a whole album’s worth of their collaborations! Joining the two main men are guitarist John Mitchell (Arena/Kino/John Wetton) and drummer Steve Christey (Jadis/John Wetton). Overall the sound does hark back to those Asia albums ‘Alpha’ and ‘Asia’, especially on ‘Let Me Go’ and ‘I Stand Alone’ which feature layered harmonies and tight guitar soloing. Elsewhere, ‘God Walks With Us’ features a moving vocal delivery from Wetton coupled with Downes in full flight on keyboards and church organ. Former ELO cellist Hugh McDowell adds greatly to the sound on a few numbers, whilst Wetton’s former King Crimson colleague Ian McDonald guests. ‘Please Change Your Mind’ again has Wetton in a heartfelt plea, whilst the closing track ‘In The End’ has Annie Haslam (Renaissance) adding her distinctive vocal talents and good to see she is still in fine vocal form.
The album certainly lives up to expectations and if you’re an Asia fan I highly recommend you add this album to your collection. The only slight disappointment is the lack of a real guitar led, rock anthem like the Asia classics ‘Don’t Cry’ or ‘Heat Of the Moment’. But hey this is still a damn fine album. Now all we need now are some live shows
CD 1:
01. Countdown To Zero 4:22
02. Le Me Go 4:46
03. Elstree 4:26
04. The Vie Is Gast 6:33
05. Book Of Saturday 3:02
06. Tempus Fugit 5:35
07. Rendez-Vous 6:16
08. Angel 5:55
09. The Night Watch 4:11
10. In The Dead Of The Night 5:54
11. Heat Of The Moment 4:27
12. Video Killed The Radio Star 3:09
CD 2:
01. I’ve Come To Take You Home 5:17
02. Twice The Man I Was 4:49
03. The Voice Of America 4:23
04. Battle Lines 5:32
05. Rubicon 7:27
06. Don’t Go Out Tonight 4:38
07. My Own Time 4:17
08. Days Like These 3:41
09. Rock And Roll Dreams 6:40
10. Meet Me At Midnight 3:42
11. True Colours 3:57
12. Starless 0:42
JOHN WETTON & GEOFFREY DOWNES – ICON – HEAT OF THE RISING SUN [2CD] (2012)