Aqua
	Produced by Geoff Downes
	Released on March 1992
	no chart information
	Find it at GEMM
35819-2 cover

A sia had scratched at the door of a comeback with some new material on Then & Now, followed by a live tour in 1990. But it was Aqua that found the band with both feet back in the saddle. Now featuring vocalist John Payne and guitarist Al Pitrelli, Asia borrowed the savvy studio sound of the re-vamped Yes and mixed it with elements of hair metal (courtesy of Payne and Pitrelli). What’s notable about Aqua is how much better it is than Asia’s last few studio albums. If the material isn’t ostensibly better than what you’d find on Alpha or Astra, Asia delivers it with more conviction and energy than anything since their debut. It’s Aqua’s re-energized aura moreso than the music itself that makes this record in many ways a return to form. Geoff Downes’ production is pristine, Payne’s vocals passionate if a tiny bit overwrought, Pitrelli’s guitar gregarious. The magical aspect of Aqua is that no one seems to have told the band they were irrelevant, enabling Asia to make an album worthy of a major label on a minor one. If Asia’s second (or even third) album had sounded this good, they’d still be packing sold-out arenas. Read the review at All Music Guide.

35819-2 inner gatefold

TRACK LISTING

1. AQUA I    (Geoff Downes)    2:25
2. WHO WILL STOP THE RAIN    (Geoff Downes/Johnny Warman/Woolfenden)    4:35
3. LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS    (Geoff Downes/John Payne/Greg Hart)    4:10
4. HEAVEN ON EARTH    (John Payne/Andy Nye)    4:52
5. SOMEDAY    (Geoff Downes/Johnny Warman)    5:47
6. CRIME OF THE HEART    (Geoff Downes/Johnny Warman)    5:55
7. A FAR CRY    (Geoff Downes/John Payne/Greg Hart/Mitchell)    5:28
8. BACK IN TOWN    (Geoff Downes/John Payne)    4:07
9. DON'T CALL ME    (Geoff Downes/Johnny Warman)    4:53
10. LOVE UNDER FIRE    (Geoff Downes/Greg Lake)    5:13
11. THE VOICE OF REASON    (Geoff Downes/John Payne)    5:34
12. AQUA II    (Geoff Downes)    2:09

CREDITS

GEOFF DOWNES -- keyboards, backing vocals
STEVE HOWE -- acoustic guitars, mandolin, pedal steel, electric 12 string, dobro
JOHN PAYNE -- lead vocals, bass, backing vocals, additional guitars
CARL PALMER -- drums & percussion
AL PITRELLI -- lead & rhythm guitars
Nigel Glockler -- additional drums
Anthony Glynne -- additional guitars
Simon Phillips -- additional drums
John Brand -- mixing
Pete Craigie -- engineer
Mike "Spike" Drake -- additional engineering
Gregg Jackman -- additional engineering
Mark Willie -- additional engineering
Rodney Matthews -- artwork

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