retroblog.net

Frontiers Records recently revealed some new details concerning Asia’s upcoming release, Omega. With the success of 2008′s Pheonix and supporting tour, fans the world over are itching for more from this legendary foursome. I’m particularly interested in the new material especially since learning that producer Mike Paxman is involved with this project. Legacy artists like these obviously know their way around a recording studio but from what I’ve seen, it’s always beneficial to have an outside producer to provide a fresh perspective on their material. Geoff Downes is quoted in the new press release saying “We were looking to create something different with Omega… Of course, the sound of the 4 band members of Asia will always have a certain hallmark when we play together. That’s a given. But we approached the song writing with a mind to getting a degree of variety into these compositions. Hence, you will hear areas of textures where arguably we have never gone before.”

Look for Omega in stores and online on April 23rd in Europe and May 4th in the U.S.

Here’s the TrackList:
Finger on the Trigger
Through My Veins
Holy War
Ever Yours
Listen Children
End of the World
Light The Way
Emily (bonus track)
Still The Same
There Was a Time
I Believe
Don’t Wanna Lose You Now

Produced by Mike Paxman
record label: Frontiers Records
the band: John Wetton, Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer
—

It’s interesting to see the Wetton/Downes Icon track “Finger On the Trigger” on the tracklist. I guess the band was a bit short on material and had to resort to re-recording a previously released track (which can be found on Icon II: Rubicon). hhmmmm….

Oh, and the album cover by Roger Dean is a bit underwhelming to be honest. I expected a whole lot more from the highly acclaimed artist. Actually Dean’s artwork that’s slated for the inner sleeve is a bit more interesting than the current cover. oh, well…

Summer tour dates for the U.S. haven’t been officially announced yet but here are the latest dates for Europe and Japan:

Apr 21 – Helsinki, Finland – House of Culture
Apr 22 – Moscow, Russia – B1 Club
Apr 24 – Rome, Italy – Auditorium
Apr 26 – Prague, Czech Republic – Lidovy dum Kbely
Apr 27 – Winterthur, Switzerland – Salzhaus
Apr 28 – Graz, Austria – Orpheum
Apr 30 – Paris, France – Casino De Paris
May 1 – Uden, Netherlands – de Pul
May 2 – Asschaffenburg, Germany
May 3 – Nuremburg, Germany – Hirsch
May 4 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7
May 6 – Reichenbach, Germany – Die Halle
May 7 – Bochum, Germany – Zeche Prinz-Regent-Strasse 50-60
May 8 – Osnabruck, Germany – Rosenhof Rosenplatz 23
May 9 – Bonn, Germany – Bruckenforum
May 13 – Tokyo, Japan – Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall
May 14 – Tokyo, Japan – Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall
May 15 – Yokohama, Japan – Kanagawa Kenmin Hall
May 17 – Osaka, Japan – Grancube
May 18 – Nagoya, Japan – Nagoya Shi Kokaido

For more information, be sure to check out the official Asia website.

—
**UPDATE: 03 March 2010**
Frontiers Records is offering a free MP3 download of the new song “Finger on the Trigger” (full version) on their website. Not sure how long they’ll have it up so be sure to check it out as soon as you can.

Related posts:

1. Asia Concert Review – Raleigh Memorial Auditorium – Omega 2010 Tour
2. Frontiers Records to release YOSO debut album Elements
3. Asia Omega – U.S. Summer Tour Dates – August 2010
4. Asia to release new album Omega in April
5. upcoming Wetton Downes dates

Filed under:
music by retroDan