SINCE 2012’s XXX, this band have undergone yet another line-up modification. Guitarist Steve Howe has departed the fold and been replaced by Sam Coulson, and the sound has changed, too, although it is still recognisably Asia.
The production is still as lush and full as the material deserves but there is a reflective feel to this album, with less stadium and more classic progressive rock stylings. This is evident in the use of keyboards and on the ballad, Joe Di Maggio’s Glove.
Although this album is not as immediate as XXX, it will be a grower and the band have another potential classic on their hands.
Steve Grantham
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