Customer Reviews

Icon

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Good

"Let Me Go" starts off with a beautiful string introduction that abruptly switches to an in-your-face vocal. Wetton still has the melodic touch, while Downes carries him along with his pulsating key strokes. Their harmonics are spot-on. You tend to think this song is about getting out of a bad relationship, but the two have commented it's about getting out of a record contract. "God Walks with Us" is an inspirational ballad about faith. Wetton flexes his powerful pipes with confidence and conviction. The added pan flute and piano only enhance the track. It's sure to jerk an emotion or two out of you.

Wetton and Downes keep the spirituality theme going with "I Stand Alone". The welcoming church organ section gives way to a driving AOR rocker. "Hey Josephine" has a little bit of everything driving it; clean acoustics, piercing electric licks, and pulsing keyboards. If you listen to the words carefully, it will bring a smile to your face when you figure out what it's about. The serine ballad "In the End" is a duet between John Wetton and Annie Haslan. They sing about their enduring love and devotion.

The Bad

Nothing

The Verdict

You know that feeling when you reunite with an old friend after years apart? You know you can't quite describe it, but you know it feels right. That's Icon!

I purchased the Italian import of ICON. Despite the imprint on the outer cover stating "The incredible reunion of two of the supergroup ASIA founding members" this CD really has nothing to do with ASIA. So if you are hoping for the original ASIA sound you will be seriously disappointed. The artist billing on this CD is Wetton/Downes in that order, and that is appropriate. This is really a John Wetton CD and like all his CD's can be fairly introspective. Though, like all of his efforts, while impeccable, Geoff Downes keyboard work just seems along for the ride. The better cuts on this musical effort are the hymn God Walks With Us, the heartfelt I Stand Alone, the peaceful Sleep Angel, and the crown jewel of this CD In The End. ICON will appeal to the true John Wetton fan. There was not much in it for this Geoff Downes fan. The real bonus of purchasing this CD is the added vocal of Annie Haslam of Renaissance fame. She really shines on In The End. Also of note on this CD is John Mitchell, currently of KINO. If you are a classic line up ASIA fan proceed with caution, on the other hand this is not an unpleasant album.

This new disc by Asia's Geoff Downes and John Wetton could very well be mistaken as a new Asia cd.

"Icon" the latest collaboration by Wetton & Downes is a well-written and performed disc.

Wetton sounds great and Downes playing at his usual outstanding-ness.

I say bring back the original Asia line-up and record. This is one-half of the group and they sound excellent. With the addition of Howe and Palmer it would be phenominal.

No offense to John Payne and others, but the real success of Asia came from the original group and definitely the collaboration of Wetton and Downes.

This disc is proof. Check it out!

Twenty years after their last full album together in Asia, Geoff Downes and John Wetton have reunited for their long-overdue follow-up to ASTRA. Although it is tempting to make a direct comparison to those three classic Asia albums, we should consider that musical influences and styles can and should change and develop during the intervening years. Wetton and Downes bring twenty years of outside experience to their reunion, and ICON is easily recogizable as their next musical step. John Wetton continues to follow the more personal lyrical approach that he has utilized on his solo albums, and Geoff Downes is back to lay down the tasteful and exquisite keyboard textures that he has perfected with the New Dance Orchestra and latter-day Asia. John Mitchell is a terrific guitarist, as evidenced by the recent KINO album, but he is surprisingly muted here. The focus is definitely (and rightfully) on Wetton & Downes, and they have created a breathtaking combination of powerful anthems and tear-jerking ballads. This is exactly what we have been wanting for twenty years. Welcome back, and please don't make us wait so long for the next one!

For those looking for a return to the "good old days" of Asia in this album, nothing is going to truly hit the mark. There are wonderful, tantalizing hints of what was, yet instead what we have in Icon is an older, more mature recording with considerably softened edges. Most of the songs could have come right off of John Wetton's latest solo project, "Rock of Faith," which is outstanding. It is not Asia, though. It is missing the driving drums, and most noticeably, guitars. Yes, there is some very good guitar work on Icon, but nothing that really drives the songs to a "rock" level.

That being said, this is still an excellent effort. It starts out very strong, and like most records, tends to fade a bit in the second half. No real stinkers, but probably nothing you'll sing in the shower, either. The exception to this is the brilliant song "In the End" which caps off the album. This song alone makes the purchase worthwhile. Annie Haslan (formerly of Renaissance) adds brilliance to what could have been a mediocre tune.

Overall, the music is tight and professional, just like you'd expect. The sound quality is excellent. Just keep in mind that it isn't Asia, and I'm sure you'll be pleased.

Where to begin on such a wonderful album performed by two of the most respected musicians I have come to appreciate over the years? Let us begin by eliminating the nay-sayers.. don't be misled by the negative reviews posted here on Amazon. I too long for the glory days of the old Asia formation, but I am more than pleased with the results of this album. Change is about the only thing that is certain in all of our lives, and this amazing recording is no exception. But after listening to it several times, I am reminded in certain tracks of hints of the first few Asia albums. "Let me go" introduces us again as to why John Wetton and Geoffrey Downes began playing and singing together many years ago. The melody and harmony is unforgettable, and John's lyrics are sharp and emotion-filled. And when I played "God walks with us" for the first time, I had a difficult time understanding why tears were coming to my eyes.. a beautiful arrangement with Geoff and John's glorious harmonizations accenting spiritual and meaningful, simple words..It's hard to describe an album like this and repeated listens bring even more underlying melodies up to the front, capturing a mood and hope that the music in America today ignores. After listening to "Far away", I see myself at about the age of ten wandering the grounds I used to walk upon. This song is a prime example of the talents these two men possess, and you will find yourself singing it for days after it is done.

There are very few musicians I admire and respect for the songs they have given me, but John and Geoff, with an excellent cast of players supporting them (John Mitchell, Annie Haslam, Steve Christey, Hugh McDowell, and Ian McDonald) continue to take me further into the uncertainness of my own life with a flame of spirit, perseverance, and soul to move forward. Any bond of people that can create this and at the same time make my 3 year old son want to hear a certain song over again because he likes to hum it,("God walks with us") will have my admiration and respect for many years to come. Thanks John and Geoff, for uniting and letting people know why music is made to begin with..

The Beatles had Lennon and McCartney, Asia had Wetton and Downes. The supergroup of the 80s had its success because of all four original members (Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, Wetton) being virtuoso musicians along with the prolific song-writing of Wetton & Downes.

Even though the past fifteen years saw Geoffrey Downes as Asia's sole original member all four gents have kept working together on various projects, with Geoff having recently co-written and played on three songs on John Wetton's Rock Of Faith.

ICON picks up where two musicians and friends left off in the early 90s, writing great tunes and lyrics that evoke old emotions (as music should do). Although all the songs are an easy listen and worth your money, the three that stand out are Let Me Go, God Walks With Us, and I Stand Alone.

The thing that gets me excited with ICON is that this is just a taste, just a warm up of what seemingly is to come, given that all four original Asia members have agreed to reunite for the band's 25th anniversary.

You know that THE HEAT GOES ON!...

4 and a half stars

It was bound to happen again at some point- some of the members of the original Asia reuniting to write new material. Here we have one half of the original Asia from 1982, the main two songwriters vocalist/bassist John Wetton and keyboard maestro Geoffrey Downes. And here we have an album of all new material from these two, some 15 or 20 years after they last collaborated.

Since the beginning of the 90's, they had forged separate paths: John Wetton embarked on a solo career, crafting heartfelt power ballads and acting as sort of godfather figure to the current progressive scene by collaborating with the likes of John Mitchell(Arena), Martin Orford(IQ/Jadis)and Steven Christy(Jadis). Geoff Downes continued the Asia brand name with soulful vocalist John Payne as Wetton's replacemant and a myriad of collaborators, continuing Asia's legacy of powerful and panoramic melodic rock. The two eventually regrouped, and Downes ended up playing on Wetton's 2003 cd 'ROCK OF FAITH'. As the two once shared a productive writing partnership, the hatchett was buried and the two began a new partnership to produce what you hear here.

This isn't the Asia of the 80's, nor really an Asia at all. As Asia is still an ongoing entity involving John Payne, ICON is born more or less as a new band which also involves John Michell(already on a roll as guitarist with ARENA and the fabulous new KINO supergroup) and Steve Christey of JADIS. Other musical pals include Ian MacDonald, Annie Haslam and Hugh MacDowell(ELO). Musically there is a more rich tapestry of sound, a more mature vibe. Whereas 80's ASIA utilized YES-styled synths, Downes provides more orchestral arrangements for ICON, and string sounds and organ dominate. There is a somewhat sombre tone throughout in places, with a sense of spirituality in some of the lyrics and the choir-like vocal harmonies. The church of Asia, if you will. Wetton is emotionally charged, and supplies the same tortured power he had displayed on ROCK OF FAITH and 2001's SINISTER. Yet there is some uplifting moments as well, and some powerful anthems. In my opinion, ICON leans more to the Wetton side of things, a natural progression from ROCK OF FAITH. Downes does little showboating on keys, instead enhancing music with his trademark synths and arrangements. His contribution is solid and tasteful, though comparing ICON to recent Wetton solo albums it seems that Wetton seems to get a few extra punches in. The songs:

PARADOX: the overture is a short instrumental, a sombre symphonic arrangement which builds up to the first track.

LET ME GO: is a driving anthem with an almost 'Eye Of The Tiger'-style pumping bass and strong harmonies which recalls the best AOR melodic rock. Gotta love that soaring guitar solo and a bed of shimmering organ.

GOD WALKS WITH US: this one is very much in the same Wetton writing style you hear on a lot of his material such as ARKANGEL(1997) and BATTLE LINES(1994). There's a gentle flute sound and acoustic guitar layered around rich vocal harmonies.

I STAND ALONE: church-like organ introduces this track which is closest to the classic Asia sound, where Downes is more noticable with his signiture atmospheric keyboards.

MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT: a synth and acoustic-based ballad with a chorus oddly similar to that one Lionell Ritchie song...

HEY JOSEPHINE: another Asia throwback with that pumping piano and bass rhythm, sounding like a lost classic Asia track.

FAR AWAY: a pleasant ballad with some tasteful cello.

PLEASE CHANGE YOUR MIND: another Wetton-styled mid-tempo one.

SLEEP ANGEL: a slow, mellow lullaby with barely noticable rhythm and some cello. It eventually breaks into a Mitchell guitar lead and full band sound.

SPREAD YOUR WINGS: another power ballad. Mitchell still shines, and has become one of my favorite guitarists these days.

IN THE END: great, postive anthem in which John duets with Annie Haslam(of Renaisance), providing a pleasant and uplifting album closer. Somebody put this on a Disney soundtrack!

A welcome return of Asia's guiding lights. However, those expecting a full-on 80's Asia assult may be disappointed. Without Steve Howe or Carl Palmer, there is a certain missing bite. ICON is a little different, more mature and orchestral. Lots of ballads, power or otherwise. There are certainly echoes of Asia in there but mostly in some of the songwriting, and in whenever you hear a spritely Downes synth phrase. But the potential is there, and the songs mostly pretty good, though perhaps a few too many ballads. Not sure how this affects the John Payne version of current Asia, but if Geoff and John Wetton can still find time to collaborate within or without the context of Asia, then all is good. Let's hear more.

I thought of several clever ways to review John Wetton / Geoff Downes new project "Icon". My first was a little wordy jaunt complete with Asia - isms and nods to the pyramids with every sentence. My next exercise in reviewing was to compare each song on the disc to one from their collective pasts. Then I thought, why not just say what you think of the music and see what happens. Ok, here we go.

I went into this with so much excitement. Since I first heard "Heat of the Moment" way back in 8th grade, I was hooked by Asia. I followed their career with great excitement and when Wetton left the band around 1992, I went with him. They say you can never go home again, but at least they can rent a room.

"Icon" kicks off in the fine Asia tradition with "Let Me Go", a rocky song of defiance in the face of turmoil. To me it sounds like a b - side track left from Astra. That is not a bad thing. I put "Lying to Yourself" and "Daylight" in my Asia top ten. It is great to hear the orchestral keyboards, a Downes trademark throughout the cd. "I Stand Alone" illustrates this fact, a quirky mix of "Pet Sounds" and ABBA. "God Walks With Us" is another stand out track. Self reflecting, haunting and very beautiful. As the disc progresses, the songs become softer and more personal. It appears the duo are not the same two men they were in the 80's and are quite happy where they are now.

Over the years, Wetton and Downes have worked with some brilliant and high profile musicians. "Icon" brings together a collection of some of the best. Ian McDonald (flutes), Hugh McDowell (cello) and Annie Haslam (vocals) blend beautifully with Steve Christey (drums) and John Mitchell (guitars). Mitchell provides a David Gilmour flavor to the songs and once again, shows how underrated he is as a player.

Overall, "Icon" is not the second coming of Asia, it is the return of two old friends.

Twenty years after their last full album together in Asia, Geoff Downes and John Wetton have reunited for their long-overdue follow-up to ASTRA. Although it is tempting to make a direct comparison to those three classic Asia albums, we should consider that musical influences and styles can and should change and develop during the intervening years. Wetton and Downes bring twenty years of outside experience to their reunion, and ICON is easily recogizable as their next musical step. John Wetton continues to follow the more personal lyrical approach that he has utilized on his solo albums, and Geoff Downes is back to lay down the tasteful and exquisite keyboard textures that he has perfected with the New Dance Orchestra and latter-day Asia. John Mitchell is a terrific guitarist, as evidenced by the recent KINO album, but he is surprisingly muted here. The focus is definitely (and rightfully) on Wetton & Downes, and they have created a breathtaking combination of powerful anthems and tear-jerking ballads. This is exactly what we have been wanting for twenty years. Welcome back, and please don't make us wait so long for the next one!