Aura (Asia album)

Last updated

Aura
Asia - Aura (2000) front cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released31 January 2001 (Japan)
Recorded2000
StudioLoco, Monmouthshire, Wales
Genre Progressive rock
Length63:12
Label Recognition
Producer
  • Simon Hanhart
  • Asia
Asia chronology
The Very Best of Asia: Heat of the Moment (1982-1990)
(2000)
Aura
(2001)
Silent Nation
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Daily VaultC+ [1]

Aura is the eighth studio album by British progressive rock band Asia. As a result of the diverse array of guest musicians, Aura had a wide mix of sounds with some songs trying to replicate Asia's earlier style, while others retained the more acoustic Latin production started by Arena five years prior.

Contents

Production

Aura began recording in 1999 at Loco Studios located in the village of Llanhennock in Monmouthshire, Wales. The group had gotten reduced to the duo of singer-songwriter John Payne and musician Geoff Downes by this time, and they were determined to create a new sort of supergroup around Aura by bringing in multiple guest artists to collaborate with them. Examples include Tony Levin, Elliott Randall, and Chris Slade. Original member Steve Howe even featured on the songs "The Last Time" and "Free". It was produced by the band itself alongside Simon Hanhart, [2] an audio engineer who had previously produced work by groups such as Babylon A.D., Saxon, and Whitecross. [3] A stable line-up would eventually be established from this, with guitarist Guthrie Govan and drummer Chris Slade becoming mainstays until 2006.

The lyrics for "Awake" were adapted from "The Rubaiyat" of Omar Khayyam. The lyrics for "The Longest Night" were inspired by Wilfred Owen's poem of 1918. "Ready to Go Home" was written by Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman of 10cc and appeared on Mirror Mirror (1995).

Geoff Downes had mixed feelings about the album's production. He stated "It was good to start with, but I think because of the duration of the album - at the end of it we felt it had gone in a slightly different direction than we wanted it to. In hindsight, sometimes these things happen." [4]

The cover artwork was designed by Roger Dean, who had collaborated with Asia since their inception.

Release

Aura was originally meant to release in August 2000, but scheduling conflicts with Recognition Records pushed it back to January 31, 2001, initially available in Japan before coming to the UK on February 12. [4] The album had numerous editions, including the standard jewel case CD issue, a limited Digipak CD edition with three bonus tracks, and a limited vinyl release. In the United States, the album was issued by Windstorm Records, a division of Blue Storm Music, and also included the three bonus tracks. In 2007, Aura was re-issued by Acadia, a label of Evangeline Records. This added a bonus CD which featured an acoustic performance by Steve Howe, recorded live at the Chestnut Cabaret in Philadelphia on 21 November 1992. "Wherever You Are" was released as a promotional single, backed with "Under the Gun", which both received some airplay. Two songs originally written for the album, "Never the Way" and "Innocence" were included on Armada 1, the band's first fan club exclusive EP released in 2002. [5]

Reception

Although the sound of Aura can be described as radio-friendly, it did not perform well in charts and remains one of the least sold studio recording in the group's catalog. This may have been partly due to Recognition Records, which went bankrupt within a year after the album was released. [6]

Critically, Aura received generally positive reviews. Dave Ling wrote in his review for Classic Rock magazine: "Among the standouts is Ready to Go Home, a beautifully restrained track written by Andrew Gold and 10cc's Graham Gouldman. But consistency is the album's key, and Awake, You're the Stranger, The Last Time, and the yearning The Longest Night are all songs from the very top drawer. Musically, Downes and Payne have chosen their contributors well. They seem to have an intuitive awareness of which players would fit certain songs." [4] Conversely, the magazine Wonderous Stories wrote "From the excellent opener Awake, where Geoff and John are joined by Michael Sturgis again on drums, through the concluding title track, the album is full of strengths and no weaknesses in sight." [4] Christopher Thelen of The Daily Vault was more ambivalent towards the album. While noting that the amount of guest musicians made the album lack cohesion, he cited the tracks "Forgive Me" and "Free" as highlights. [7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Awake" Geoff Downes, John Payne 6:01
2."Wherever You Are" Andrew Gold, Graham Gouldman, Downes, Payne4:48
3."Ready to Go Home"Gold, Gouldman4:48
4."The Last Time"Downes, Payne4:58
5."Forgive Me"Jimmy Santis, Richard Tancredi, Downes, Payne5:24
6."Kings of the Day"Downes, Payne6:42
7."On the Coldest Day in Hell"Downes, Payne, Ben Woolfenden6:26
8."Free"Downes, Payne8:13
9."You're the Stranger"Downes, Payne5:47
10."The Longest Night"Downes, Payne, Woolfenden5:21
11."Aura"Downes, Payne, Elliott Randall 4:45
Total length:63:12
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Under the Gun"Downes, Payne4:50
13."Come Make My Day"Downes, Payne, Ian Crichton5:02
14."Hands of Time"Downes, Payne6:31
Total length:79:35

Personnel

Asia

Additional musicians

Technical personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia (band)</span> English rock band

Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful line-up was its original, which consisted of four members of different progressive rock bands that had enjoyed great success in the 1970s: lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton of King Crimson and U.K., guitarist Steve Howe of Yes, keyboardist Geoff Downes of Yes and the Buggles, and drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Their debut album, Asia, released in 1982, remains their best selling album and went to number one in several countries. The lead single from the album, "Heat of the Moment", remains their top charting and best-known song, reaching the top 40 in over a dozen markets and peaking in the U.S. at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10cc</span> English art rock band

10cc is an English rock band, formed in Stockport, England, in 1972. The group initially consisted of four musicians – Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme – who had written and recorded together since 1968. The group featured two songwriting teams. Stewart and Gouldman were predominantly pop songwriters, who created most of the band's accessible songs. Godley and Creme were the predominantly experimental half of 10cc, featuring art and cinematically inspired writing.

Box of Frogs were an English rock band formed in 1983 by former members of the Yardbirds, who released their first album in 1984. The core group consisted of Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith, and Jim McCarty. Vocals on their eponymous album were done by John Fiddler. On the second album, Fiddler sang on five songs, with guests singers Graham Parker, Ian Dury and Roger Chapman performing the remaining songs. Many musicians guested on their albums. Former Yardbirds bandmates Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page played lead guitar on parts of their first and second albums, respectively.

<i>Drama of Exile</i>

Drama of Exile is the sixth studio album by German musician Nico. It was initially released in 1981. The second release followed in 1983 which was a re-recording of the first one done in May 1981. The album featured a Middle Eastern rhythm section and was produced by Corsican bassist Philippe Quilichini. This was Nico's only album not to feature John Cale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Payne (singer)</span> English musician (born 1958)

John Payne is an English musician, best known as the lead singer and bassist of Asia from 1991 to 2006, then from June 2007, with Asia featuring John Payne. He also is now in Dukes of the Orient but continues to tour with The Rock Pack and also Asia Featuring John Payne.

<i>Silent Nation</i> 2004 studio album by Asia

Silent Nation is the ninth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2004. It was the last album with longtime vocalist and bassist John Payne, prior to the reunion of the original line-up in 2006.

<i>Aqua</i> (Asia album) 1992 studio album by Asia

Aqua is the fourth studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released in 1992. It was the first album with longtime vocalist and bassist John Payne.

<i>Aria</i> (Asia album) 1994 studio album by Asia

Aria is the fifth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in April 1994 in the United Kingdom by Bullet Proof Records and in 1995 in the United States by Mayhem Recordings. Unlike its predecessor, which was recorded with the help of several guest musicians, Aria features a stable line-up consisting of vocalist and bassist John Payne, keyboard player Geoff Downes, guitarist Al Pitrelli and drummer Michael Sturgis.

<i>Arena</i> (Asia album) 1996 studio album by Asia

Arena is the sixth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in March 1996 by Bullet Proof Records. Recorded at Electric Palace Studios in London during 1995, it was produced by vocalist John Payne and keyboard player Geoff Downes. The album was a departure from Asia's usual sound, adopting a more acoustic production style with Latin and Middle Eastern influences.

<i>Welcome to the World</i> 1997 studio album by Psycho Motel

Welcome to the World is the second and final Psycho Motel album, released in 1997. It features a different vocalist from the band's first album, 1995's State of Mind. In place of Hans Olav Solli is Andy Makin, whose "dark lyrics and distinctive vocal delivery" differentiate the album from its predecessor. It also features Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Dave Murray of Iron Maiden as guest guitarists.

<i>Till Deaf Do Us Part</i> 1981 studio album by Slade

Till Deaf Do Us Part is the tenth studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released on 13 November 1981 and reached No. 68 on the UK charts. The album was produced by Slade. Although not as successful as We'll Bring the House Down earlier in the year, this album sold well.

<i>Love Is the Law</i> (Toyah album) 1983 studio album by Toyah

Love Is the Law is the fifth studio album by British new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1983 by Safari Records. It reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart and included the Top 40 hit single "Rebel Run". It was the last album to be released by the band before singer Willcox embarked on a solo career and retained 'Toyah' as her stage name.

<i>Archiva 1</i> 1996 compilation album by Asia

Archiva is a two-volume collection of out-takes and previously unreleased tracks by British progressive rock band Asia. The volume one, designated as Archiva 1, was released on 3 September 1996 by Resurgence.

<i>Archiva 2</i> 1996 compilation album by Asia

Archiva is a two-volume collection of out-takes and previously unreleased tracks by British progressive rock band Asia. The volume two, designated as Archiva 2, was released on 17 September 1996 by Resurgence.

<i>Phoenix</i> (Asia album) 2008 studio album by Asia

Phoenix is the tenth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2008. It was the first studio recording with the original line-up after the reunion in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia featuring John Payne</span> Rock band

Asia featuring John Payne is a British–American rock group band formed in 2007 following a schism in the lineup of Asia. The band is a continuation of singer and bassist John Payne's career as the band's frontman, which lasted from 1991 until 2006, when Asia's original 1982 lineup reunited. In December 2017, Payne and keyboardist Erik Norlander formed a new group, Dukes of the Orient, with various members and ex-members of Asia featuring John Payne as collaborators. Asia featuring John Payne remains active as a touring stage show.

<i>Real to Reel</i> (Marillion album) 1984 live album by Marillion

Real to Reel is the first live album by the British neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released in November 1984. It was co-produced by Simon Hanhart who had mixed the first two studio albums and co-produced the studio version of "Cinderella Search".

<i>Gravitas</i> (Asia album) 2014 studio album by Asia

Gravitas is the thirteenth studio album by British rock group Asia, released in 2014. It is the group's final studio album with vocalist/bassist John Wetton before his death in 2017 and the only one to feature guitarist Sam Coulson.

<i>Clever Clogs</i> 2008 live album by 10cc

Clever Clogs is a live and video album by 10cc released in 2008.

<i>Return of the Dream Canteen</i> 2022 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Return of the Dream Canteen is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on October 14, 2022, through Warner Records as a double LP and single CD. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was recorded during the same sessions as the band's previous studio album, Unlimited Love, released earlier in 2022.

References

  1. Thelen, Christopher (6 May 2017). "Review: Aura". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  2. Aura at AllMusic
  3. Simon Hanhart at AllMusic
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gallant, David (1999). Asia, the heat goes on : a complete and authorised biography. Bordon: Northdown. ISBN   1-900711-11-7. OCLC   41257220.
  5. "Armada 1". www.relayer35.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  6. Randall, David (2003). "Asia – Aura (2001)". Get Ready to ROCK!. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  7. "Asia: | Daily Vault". www.dailyvault.com. Retrieved 10 June 2021.