Asia - "Long Way From Home"
	Released: 2005 Label: InsideOut Cat. No.: IOMCD 196 Total Time: 19:26
	Reviewed by: John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, March 2005 Even knowing prog is unpopular from a commercial point of view Inside Out goes as far as releasing a single. Now how "un-commercial" can you get? Maybe for airplay purposes issuing a single might be a good idea, and knowing this four-track kicks off with a radio edit of "Long Way From Home," no doubt that's the main idea behind this release. After all, once you get pressing you might as well add another couple of hundred copies for the diehard fans. And these fans get their reward towards the end of this disc. Next to two edited versions of album cuts, they are given two acoustic versions of tracks from the band's latest studio effort Silent Nation. Knowing the professionalism of all musicians involved, even an acoustic version still retains all its splendour. Take the title track from the new album, which has Geoff Downes focus on piano and strings whilst John Payne lies down a wonderful vocal, extra backed by acoustic guitar. Stripped of its full arrangement, the song still stands, which is proof of the quality of the composition in the first place. Asia acoustic is Downes and Payne, the nucleus of the current line-up. Although entitled to be an acoustic version, "Long Way From Home" to me sounds like a demo version here, as it only unites Geoff and John the way they could sit in their home studio trying out new ideas. To be honest I find this version a little too naked and therefore like "Silent Nation" best when it comes down to the "unplugged" versions. After way too many live albums and compilations, I'm glad that Asia has been given another chance with their outstanding music. This 4-track therefore acts both as a taster as well as a collector attracting new and old fans with one single disc! More about "Long Way From Home": Track Listing: Long Way From Home (Radio Edit) (3:29) / What About Love (Radio Edit) (4:18) / Silent Nation (Acoustic Version) (5:42) / Long Way From Home (Acoustic Version) (5:55) Musicians: Geoff Downes - keyboards, percussion John Payne - vocals, bass, guitar Guthrie Govan - guitar Chris Slade - drums Contact: Websites: www.originalasia.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Asia (1982) Alpha (1983) Astra (1985) Then And Now (1990) Live In Moscow (1991) Aqua (1992) Aria (1994) Arena (1996) Archiva 1 (1996) Archiva 2 (1996) Aura (2000/2001) Anthologia: 20th Anniversary Geffen Years Collection 1982-1990 (2002) Silent Nation (2004) "Long Way From Home" (2004)
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