In case you’ve missed the advert, John Wetton and Geoffrey Downes were the main songwriters in the original version of Asia. Together they wrote three and a half albums before going there separate ways. After an aborted Asia reunion a few years ago Downes was responsible for co-writing a few tracks on the last John Wetton solo album and it was this that led to the pair reuniting for this “Icon” album. As current Asia vocalist John Payne owns the name Asia, (As an aside I’ve found most of the Payne era material fairly boring, but the last album ''Silent Nation' was stunning!) the pair could not call this Asia, which is probably just as well as anybody expecting that classic Asia sound will find a slightly different beast awaiting them.  

Asia always was about keyboard driven AOR/Prog rock with the guitar also normally fairly high in the mix. This album differs in one major expect as there is very little guitar on offer, but what guitar work there is suits the songs to a “T” The album overall reflects Wetton/Downes early musical experience and mixes classical and church music with Asia style arrangements. Also on first listen I thought I heard definite ELO influences and after doing some research the reason for this became apparent as Icon features a guest appearance  from Hugh McDowell  who was in that particular band!

The album opens with an extended cello/keyboard piece called 'Overture' which leads into the first proper track 'Let Me Go' which is driven by Wetton's bass along with excellent drumming courtesy of Steve Christey and a short solo from John Mitchell. Next up is 'God Walks With Us' which Is the first track that reflects the “church music” influence on the alum with Downes keyboards sounding like a church organ and the song being almost a hymn.

'I Stand Alone' Is the first of two tracks that sound like Asia outtakes, opening like 'Go' from the Astra album and is typical in style of Asia from that period - Cool,  whereas 'Meet Me At Midnight', an acoustic guitar lead ballad,  has one  major down fall in that, whilst the guitar playing is amazing, the chorus sound and phasing reminds this reviewer of the abysmal 'Hello' by Lionel Ritchie for some reason! 'Hey Josephine' starts off with more acoustic guitar and then the keyboards kick in alongside the guitar and this is, by far and away, the best track on the album for Asia fans!

Sixth track in, 'Far Away', is a typical Wetton/Downes composition within this slightly modified style, with keyboards being taking the lead as the main instrument and reminds one of a mellow ELO and following up is yet another mellow track in the shape of 'Please Change Your Mind'. 'Sleep Angel' on the other hand is a simple love song and then 'Spread Your Wings.' returns to that church felling mentioned earlier containing, as it does, a large dose of Cello from Hugh McDowell. Rounding out the CD is 'The End',  an duet between Wetton and  Annie Haslam which features Ian MacDonald on flute (ex-King Crimson and Foreigner).

Icon ,in short is a very good easy listening album,  however it is certainly not a record for those who prefer amps turned up to eleven and a host of  screaming guitars. What can be said is that this is a must  all John Wetton & Asia fans out there as well as for people who have a broad musical taste.

Let us know your views on 'Icon'

Track List

Let Me Go
God Walks With Us
I Stand Alone
Meet Me At Midnight
Hey Josephine
Far Away
Please Change Your Mind
Sleep Angel
Spread Your Wings
In The End

Line Up

John Wetton - Vocals & Bass
John Mitchell - Guitars
Steve Christey - Drums
Geoffrey Downes - Keyboards
Guests
Hugh McDowell - Cello
Annie Haslam - Vocals
Ian McDonald - Flute