Episode 44 – Asia Part 5 Aura, Silent Nation & Phoenix
Joe continues his solo consideration of the Asia catalog, finishing up the John Payne era with Aura and Silent Nation before moving on to the rebirth of original Asia with Phoenix. Aura, always a Joe favorite, fares well over time and there is much in this album to appreciate. The long list of guest musicians provides depth and interest across the tracks. The songwriting is solid and interesting. And, of course, Aura contains what may be the best Asia track ever in “Free”. Simply phenomenal. The John Payne era of Asia finishes strong with Silent Nation. The fact that this album was recorded as a band is obvious upon listening and provides a warmer, more organic feel. Guthrie Govan is a consistent highlight on Silent Nation and Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen arrive on the scene. Phoenix sees a significant shift back to the original lineup of Downes, Howe, Palmer and Wetton. As one might expect from such a reunion, there is a lot of energy in the performance and songwriting on Phoenix. This is an album that continues to get better with repeated listens
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Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt
