New Asia music

[Ar-Pharazon]

A new Asia track, The Traveller (Into The Light) dropped today. New album Indigo due in November.

I said this in the comments for the video, I'd be a bit arsed with an brand new lineup alongside Geoff Downes, but the John Payne era pretty much did the same and that was some great music.

This track OTOH, sounds more like classic era Asia than almost anything they've done since the 80's. The singer has some great pipes. I'm intrigued to hear more.

Asia - The Traveller (Into The Light)

 

[That 70s Guy]

I just time travelled to the 80s!

 

[Buckeye Randy]

The Asia website has a nice article on the upcoming album.

Asia return with new album “Indigo” | Original Asia

Releasing November 6, 2026 via Frontiers Music SRL.

originalasia.com

Hopefully a headlining tour of small/midsize venues will follow. What size venues do you think they'll be playing? With this line-up I'm guessing 2500 but I could be way off.

 

[dr wu]

Not a bad song....the only original member being Downes.....does that still make it Asia cause they have the legal rights?

The new bass player sounds a bit like Wetton and is decent.

TBH I was always a bit disappointed in Asia even with the first lp. They never lived up to my expectations from such a talented group of musicians. It seemed they just wanted to have a few hits and make money....nothing wrong with that except several of those guys were in really good prog rock bands and sort of abandoned their roots.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Not a bad song....the only original member being Downes.....does that still make it Asia cause they have the legal rights?

The new bass player sounds a bit like Wetton and is decent.

TBH I was always a bit disappointed in Asia even with the first lp. They never lived up to my expectations from such a talented group of musicians. It seemed they just wanted to have a few hits and make money....nothing wrong with that except several of those guys were in really good prog rock bands and sort of abandoned their roots.

Even the Yes of the 80's "progressed" to more of a hit machine. Rush too, to a certain extent. Shorter, crisper, more stripped down songs meant both bands managed to stay relevant (and prosper) when other 70's groups faded into obscurity. And TBF, both bands made some amazing music in the 80's, as did Asia.

 

[Buckeye Randy]

Even the Yes of the 80's "progressed" to more of a hit machine. Rush too, to a certain extent. Shorter, crisper, more stripped down songs meant both bands managed to stay relevant (and prosper) when other 70's groups faded into obscurity. And TBF, both bands made some amazing music in the 80's, as did Asia.

I think many bands of the '70's saw seismic stylistic shifts in the '80's due in large part to MTV. Many of the older bands did survive and I'm sure they lost a few fans on the way but that's business.

I thought the debut by Aisa was a fine album. That album along with 1981's Long Distance Voyager by the Moddy Blues did a good job of carrying the prog torch while helping transition the genre into a user friendly format.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I think many bands of the '70's saw seismic stylistic shifts in the '80's due in large part to MTV. Many of the older bands did survive and I'm sure they lost a few fans on the way but that's business.

I thought the debut by Aisa was a fine album. That album along with 1981's Long Distance Voyager by the Moddy Blues did a good job of carrying the prog torch while helping transition the genre into a user friendly format.

I was literally talking with someone about 80's era Moody Blues yesterday and forgot to include them in my comment. Another great example. All three of those bands already had a strong synth presence, so that might have helped them transition to the synth-heavy 80's. But the stylistic change also helped.

 

[dr wu]

Well....I'm going to be the music critic (someone has to be...) and point out that 'stylistic changes' may save band's careers but it rarely leads to their best music and usually alienates earlier fans.

The most popular Asia lp (rating on PA 3.24) was still the first and they never got past 3.34 rating on Prog Rock archives and that was for Arena 1996. The first is the only one I own.
I'm a fan of The Moody Blues and have all the early lps up to and including LDV (1981). Their best by far
imho was 'Chidrens Children' in 1969 though some hard core prog fans say 'Days Of Future Passed' was their best and they never bettered it. IMHO they never reached their best work again after Seventh Sojourn.

 

[Buckeye Randy]

Well....I'm going to be the music critic (someone has to be...) and point out that 'stylistic changes' may save band's careers but it rarely leads to their best music and usually alienates earlier fans.

I have no problem with an artist changing musical priorities. It might be chasing chart success or exploring artistic freedom or something more personal. It's their right and it's my right to buy the record or not buy the record. I think 'best' music is very subjective, who is it 'best' for? I've heard highly personal releases that I think are crap but the artist claims it was therapeutic for them.

I will add that you are spot on when you say earlier fans often want no part of the changes. There are several bands I essentially walked away from because I didn't like what they were putting out. A mutual parting of the ways!

The most popular Asia lp (rating on PA 3.24) was still the first and they never got past 3.34 rating on Prog Rock archives and that was for Arena 1996. The first is the only one I own.

I can understand using Billboard chart and sales success as a reference point for a high level view. I don't understand judging releases based on somebody else's rating system, I prefer the grading system of my own ears! However...nobody has time to listen to everything so I understand if people screen their listening through a rating service.

I've found that RYM is good for information. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/asia
Even this site has a ratings and rankings that I ignore but I do like the completeness of the discographies and the posted reviews.

Is there a thread on this site where people list sites for gathering information? I'm always looking to expand.

I actually have a pet peeve that dovetails into this. I see all sorts of revisionist history written with retro reviewing. Sure, it is interesting to read what a 30 year old music journalist says about 50 year old albums but I find more value in reading what Lester Bangs had to say!

I'm a fan of The Moody Blues and have all the early lps up to and including LDV (1981). Their best by far
imho was 'Chidrens Children' in 1969 though some hard core prog fans say 'Days Of Future Passed' was their best and they never bettered it. IMHO they never reached their best work again after Seventh Sojourn.

I agree that there are few similarities between early Moody Blues and the band we heard in the '80's! I can listen to both, they're just different.