Customer Reviews

Fantasia: Live in Tokyo [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This DVD is the Asia fan's dream come true. An outstanding music DVD (filmed in Tokyo) which features the 4 original members (John Wetton, Steve Howe, Geoffrey Downes, and Carl Palmer), accompanied by excellent sound quality and camera work. The camera focusses on the band members playing and does not dart back and forth from the audience to the band members. What a relief! This DVD marks the 25th anniversary of the 1st Asia album, which came out in 1982.

The songset consists of 18 pieces:

1. Time Again
2. Wildest Dreams
3. One Step Closer
4. Roundabout
5. Without You
6. Cutting It Fine
7. Intersection Blues - Steve's Solo
8. Fanfare for the Common Man
9. The Smile has Left Your Eyes
10. Don't Cry
11. In the Court of the Crimson King
12. Here comes the Feeling
13. Video Killed the Radio Star
14. The Heat Goes On -- Drum Solo
15. Only Time Will Tell
16. Ride Easy
17. Heat of the Moment
Bonus Feature: Interviews with Asia

This DVD features most of their most well-known songs (Heat of the Moment, Only Time will Tell, Sole Survivor, Don't Cry, The Smile has Left Your Eyes), as well as some samplings from King Crimson (In the Court of the Crimson King) and Yes (Roundabout). I was especially surprised how well John Wetton sang "Roundabout" -- his full-bodied singing was outstanding and was a great re-endition of the Yes classic.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary, Asia sang the rare song "Ride Easy", which did not appear on any album but was the flip-side for the cassette of "Heat of the Moment" single (in 1982). This song was the favorite song of John Wetton in all of the Asia repertoire.

Steve Howe seemed to be really enjoying his playing, especially the solo piece "Intersection Blues". In other concerts, he was usually dour, but on this one he seemed like he was having fun. The only drawback in this DVD is that the sound does not quite pick up Howe's electric guitar, especially on songs like "Only Time Will Tell".

Most of the songs stick very closely to the studio versions, except for "Don't Cry" which is done acoustically. One of the best features in this DVD is the extensive interview of all the 4 original band members. Each member talked about his musical background, the bands they played in, how they got together to form Asia, and what Asia meant to them after 25 years. It was such a close and personal interview. It's so great to have these 4 outstanding musicians team up again after so many years.

If you're an Asia fan, run and buy this DVD! You'll be impressed! It is absolutely essential for your music DVD collection. The music and sound quality far surpasses all the other Asia DVDs - especially the Asia collection (which had very poor sound quality for the Moscow concert -- see my review for that DVD).

This is a very well done show. I was impressed by the fullness of the sound and the strength of Wetton's vocals after so much time. They didn't have to play down for any of his parts that I can tell...he sounded brilliant. I was VERY impressed with his singing on some of the non-Asia stuff, in particular "Roundabout". John Anderson is a tough act to follow, but Wetton performed the song so well I have to give him a lot of credit. He's a great vocalist and an excellent bassist.

All four players are in very good form, and deliver all the music with inspiration. The jam part of 'Fanfare for the Common Man' was excellent in particular, with some nice back-and-forth with Downes and Howe.

Howe can be kind of a dour guy, but he was obviously really enjoying this reunion tour and playing this material. He was animated and even mirthful at times! A consummate pro, his playing was wonderful and spirited, but I wish his guitars were up a bit more in the mix. Downes drowns him out at times (hence the -1 star from what would otherwise be a five star rating).

Carl plays great as always, with just a bit more restraint than he used to (which is a good thing in this context). His kit sounds good, and he is still a very good showman. I really liked his work here on "Sole Survivor", particularly towards the end of that track. Tasty!

Geoff is always fun to watch, and enjoys live playing very much. He is very deft and skilled on his assortment of keys and his sonic choices for the most part are spot on. He's a little high in the mix at times, but at least he always sounds good and plays very well. His featured bit at the end of "Cutting It Fine" is rendered very well here.

Overall a must buy for a fan of these musicians! These songs sound so fresh and alive the way they are played here. Bravo, gents! How about a new CD?

This one arrived upon my doorstep today and I just finished watching all of it, including the lengthy interviews. These are four gracious British gentlemen with some of the best musical pedigree in the business. Not one minute is wasted in the entire set list. I also highly recommend this DVD over the CD version, so that one can appreciate what is being played. For instance, that is not a true acoustic guitar that Steve plays in the opening of Roundabout.

Having been a fan of Asia throughout their entire history, I thought that Geoff Downes was the founding member, since he is the only one of these four who appears on all Asia releases. Well, the interviews dispell this myth along with a few others. He was actually the last to join this lineup.

When I first saw this 25th anniversary lineup announced, my cynical and jaded self figured that it was nothing but a dirty rotten money making scheme from record company execs. Wrong!!!! Having seen the interviews and the interaction on stage, there is a lot of mutual respect for each other and they all realize that the chemistry was just right in 1982 when their debut album was released. They can now look back on what went right and plan for their next new release. Yes, this does not appear to be a one-shot reunion for nostalgia and monetary purposes. Hopefully, they won't try to repeat what they did 25 years ago, because this can never be done again.

Looking forward to the new songs!!!

I love ASIA. I loved seeing 'em live and was totally blown away.
And, this is a great document of their tour--except for the sound mix!
I was excited to hear the DTS-HD Master Audio and totally immerse myself in the band. Problem is, the surround mix just totally immerses you in Geoff Downes!
I saw another review online that asks how this mix could've been released. I wonder the same thing myself. What happened?!!
It's really like listening to the keys monitor mix. Can't hear Steve much at all, and Carl is a distant mono.
Is this a problem with my player? Do I need to update it?
Or is this issue with the mix?
In any case, it's very disappointing.

Totally agree with a previous review about the sound mix on the Blu-ray disc - it's awful. You get 3 options, DTS-HD, Dolby 5.1, and LPCM. Both the DTS-HD and Dolby 5.1 are terrible - you can barely hear the guitar and anytime the keyboard plays it is way louder than all the other instruments. The only way this disc is watchable is by using the LPCM audio option, which doesn't suffer from the bad audio mixing, but still isn't worth paying extra for Blu-ray. Don't know if this is a problem with my player - it's a Panasonic DMP-BD35, but if you're looking for sweet DTS-HD sound, keep looking.

I thought the DVD was well produced. The songs sounded good. Main highlights as always for me are Steve Howe. The texture he gives the Asia material makes it what it is.

Also, Carl Palmer is just phenomenal. Drum solo and his stage show is just sensational. I had a chance of seeing them in Glenside PA at the Keswick theater last year and it was just great. They all greeted the fans after the show.

I think they are not in this for the long haul but I've heard reports from John Wetton when he was interviewed recently following his triple heart Bypass that they are currently writing songs for the new album. Yes Is scheduled for touring in 2008, so I believe the other members of Asia will definitly come together from time and time to play. New material will help, but Wetton reminded those in the interview that it was in the recording sessions that the band began to have problems before, so hopefully with lessons learned in the past, things will go harmoniously this time.

I started to hear Prog Rock since I was 13, today I'm 42, and, became, between other bands, a YES,ELP, King Crimson, between other bands, fan.
Well, quite frankly, I was with not big expectations about this Show from, ASIA, you know, Howe with some health problems, Downes kind of out of shape, Wetton fat, Palmer with that "short weird hair and looking".... what a mistake !!! Those guys are booming and rocking better than on the begining of their respectives careers, very powerful, technical, keeping control of every little part of every song...Howe vibrating much more than at with YES, Palmer,kindly destroying and dominating the drums, Wetton singing perfectly from the botton to the top notes and Downes, with much more consistency and punch.
Definetely , a Blue Ray concert that worth every minute and money that I spent. Prog Roch Forever and hopefully more shows and long life to ASIA !

I bought this concert DVD in the "Heat of the Moment" and it has quickly become one of my favorite concert DVD's. In March 2007 "Asia" band members Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton reunited for this memorable 25th anniversary concert in Tokyo Japan. Hailed as one of the first super groups of the 1980's "Asia" definitely lived up to their billing as they ripped through 17 songs with great timing & precision. The bands' playing was just as incredible in 2007 as it was when they formed in 1982.

For me this concert DVD was everything I had hoped for and so much more. I'll admit that the guys are 25 years older and definitely showing their age but they haven't lost anything when it comes to their musicianship on stage. Steve Howe seemed to really enjoy the whole reunion experience and his guitar playing was outstanding to say the least. Carl Palmer's drumming in my opinion was truly awesome and he made it seem effortless as he went about his business as usual. Geoff Downes sounded much louder compared to the others, but he was still the showman on stage and his playing didn't disappoint. What can you say about John Wetton, his voice has truly stood the test of time and it's hard to believe 25 years has gone by. He was in fine form for this concert and he sounded as good as ever. He seemed to be in sync with the music and had no problem hitting all the notes.

"Asia" live in Tokyo Japan marks the 25th anniversary of the band and fans will not want to miss out on this memorable performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has done an incredible job with this DVD release. The video image is absolutely spectacular. The picture is crisp and clear and the colors are vibrant and sharp. I can't find any faults with the sound options; the 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS sound options are simply outstanding. The camera angles and editing are stellar and I wish every DVD concert was filmed like this one. In my opinion this is the best "Asia" concert DVD on the market and fans would be happy to own it.

DVD Songs:
Time Again / Wildest Dreams / One Step Closer /Roundabout / Without You / Cutting it Fine / Intersection Blues - Steve's Solo / Fanfare For the Common Man / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Don't Cry / Court of the Crimson King / Here Comes the Feeling / Video Killed the Radio Star / The Heat Goes On - Drum Solo / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Ride Easy / Heat of the Moment /

DVD Bonus Features:
Interviews with Asia Band Members

Having gotten into prog and classic rock when I was in high school in the mid-90's, I was not into modern music at all during this period. After listening to a lot of Rush and Yes, I discovered that I really had an ear for the 80's period of many prog groups, admiring the accesibility of the lyrics, the nice melodies, and the lush synths that permeated many songs of that era. Or maybe I was subconciously enjoying the song styles of my youth, when MTV was on in the background of my home, who knows. In the summer of '98, I picked up a used LP of Asia's Alpha (for $2 at a thrift store), and was intrigued by the arena rock/prog stylings, having been familiar with Steve Howe's and Geoff Downes' tenure in Yes. This was also my initial introduction to Palmer and Wetton. I thought the album was okay, but didn't suit my taste at that time.

Fast forward six months later. Having heard their 1982 debut, I was well and truly hooked. Gorgeous, dramatic songs with lots of power. Lyrics were a little saccharine, but I was still pretty starry-eyed back then anyway. It was what I wanted to hear at that time. I went on to complete my Asia collection of various studio, live and archive releases, enjoying both eras of the band, as well as delving deeper into the works of King Crimson, ELP and the Buggles. (For those that continue the childish "Wetton vs. Payne" arguments...get over it. Both sides of the history of Asia have their strengths and weaknesses, and John Payne contributed some wonderful styles and experiments, musically and lyrically. But that chapter is now closed and things have come full circle...)

I always had a strong connection to various Asia songs, in particular with "Heat of the Moment" being a poignant, catalystic song between me and my then-girlfriend. (And this is in the late 90's. Bear in mind that I was 2 and playing with tinker-toys when the song came out originally.) Jump forward to 2006, and that same girlfriend calls me up telling me that she's ready to move in with me and get a place, having just caught "Heat of the Moment" on the radio, sparking a thought of me which prompted the call. During this same period, the original Asia lineup reunites (3/4ths almost got together in '99, but it was nullified), and it seems like two things that I never thought I'd see come into being. I was ecstatic. It turned out to be an exciting but dark time in my life, as things didn't work out between me and my girl, and our planned Asia concert together never came to fruition. I moved back to California very confused and sad. I felt like I lost a wonderful dream. "Heat of the moment" indeed...

Now, onto the DVD...

This is a wonderful concert document, fulfilling a piece of Asia's own destiny, having never had a full concert video of the original lineup ever released. (1983's MTV concert, Asia In Asia, featured ELP's Greg Lake on vocals, after a hasty short-term departure by John Wetton.) The fact that it is in Tokyo is a nice touch, the audiences there having a particular affinity for the group. The film editing is tight, the cameras are crisp, and (despite being keyboard-heavy) the mix is pretty much spot-on. The band plays with a great amount of reverence and enthusiasm for the material, and (having heard the debut about a million times) I notice that there's certain tiny moments -- little flourishes, fills and shadings -- that are played exactly as they were on the LP. I can tell that the group went back to the debut, listened to it closely, and mirrored it in live form very accurately.

The band's choice of mixing and sound is pretty good, although I would've given Palmer's drums a bit more reverb and snap. Wetton's bass is thumping and deep on certain parts, but mixed a little low. Vocals are excellent, although Downes usually fills in background vox with samples. Wetton's voice is in fine form after 25 years, as has a little wear and raspiness to it that actually enhances certain sections. Steve Howe shines in particular here, having a lot of passion and excitement in his playing, and wonderful usage of tone and shading on all the tracks. The audience is mixed well and is happy and appreciative, although their Japanese reserve keeps them from going bonkers at key musical moments. (Would've liked some audience shots of cute Japanese girls, but hey...)

The setlist is (almost) everything I could have wanted. I would have preferred an electric version of "Don't Cry" and perhaps something from the Steve Howe-less Astra (such as "Go") and more from Alpha, but these are small gripes compared to the delightful choices that they included. The never-played-live-before B-side "Ride Easy" is given a chance to shine in acoustic form (its lyrics having a certain prophetic and emotional foreshadowing for the group), and the entire 1982 debut is played throughout the set -- which has the rarely played live "Time Again", "Cutting It Fine/Bolero" (which has Downes doing a swell job of recreating his climactic keyboard march near the end) and "Here Comes The Feeling", as well as the (as far as I know) not-played-since-'82 "One Step Closer (featuring co-lead vocals from Howe and Wetton -- a live surprise and better than I thought) and "Without You."

Classics by the group's more well-known bands are given an outing, with a sloooow version of Yes's "Roundabout" (Wetton having to handle both bass *and* vocals -- not easy in a song like that), ELP's "Fanfare For The Common Man", "Video Killed The Radio Star" by the Buggles (pretty good, but don't care for the vocoded chorus), and King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King" (which is a strange choice, as Wetton wasn't in the original '69 Crimson lineup that did it, and only sang it live years later with Steve Hackett on The Tokyo Tapes. Perhaps it's a tribute to Greg Lake's filling-in at the Budokan in '83? Nah...)

And, quite obviously, the '91-'05 era is completely ignored, but I don't think anyone was surprised by that. (Although I secretly hoped for a Geoff Downes instrumental keyboard medley of key tracks from those underrated albums...)

Included is a 40-minute documentary, relatively simple and direct as each band member talks about the origins of the group, how they got into music etc. I was hoping for a bit more production and lyrical insight into those early albums, but oh well. (And Carl, please burn that shirt you're wearing.)

The cover artwork by Roger Dean is pretty good, if a bit simplistic. His paintings for the debut and Alpha are jaw-dropping works of art; absolute complete "worlds" to get lost in with the music, so I apologize if I criticize and say this isn't quite up to his standard. Although I do like the subtle, metaphorical touch of the melting snow and cherry blossoms. New beginnings, anyone?

Jumping ahead to '07-'08 in my life...After spending a couple years in contemplation and reaquainting my fascination with Zen Buddhism and Asian culture, I meet a girl from Thailand that lived one town over from me, and liked all of my Asia CDs (she also got a crush on Carl Palmer.) We quickly fell for eachother and bonded deeply. One of our first concerts was seeing the original Asia lineup on the Phoenix tour when they came to southern California. It seems as if I went full circle, as well as the band. My dream was fulfilled...

"You catch the pearl, and ride the dragon's wings..."

Time flies. It's been 25 years from the sensational Asia in Asia tour in Tokyo. I was there last time, it was very nice stage, but John Wetton was not there. I was so disappointed about it. Now all original members are coming back. Yes, they got old (especially Steve Howe), but their sounds are still alive. Although some songs are arranged to acoustic version (The smile has left your eyes, Don't cry,...), their performance is totally high quality. Surprisingly, every song is performed by only four old boys, John, Steve, Jeff and Carl. No other musicians helped them. "Video killed the radio star" by Asia is so nice. If you were excited about "Heat of the moment" 25 years ago, must watch the DVD!