It’s 2026, and there’s a brand new ASIA album out next month. Since the band’s massive debut album in 1982 there have been a lot of Asia albums and Asia line up changes, with keyboardist/songwriter Geoff Downes being the constant. The original Asia reunited 20 years ago, and recorded 4 more albums (though without Steve Howe on the 4th). When singer/bass player/songwriter John Wetton passed away in 2017, I think most assumed that was the end of Asia. Downes would put together a couple of versions of the band from 2019 onward, to tour. But enter Harry Whitley, who’d guested at the John Wetton tribute show in 2023. Downes put together a new Asia line up with Whitley on bass & vocals, along with drummer Virgil Donati and guitarist John Mitchell. The band toured North America in 2024, and has since released a live album, a full performance of the debut album. Seeing the band in 2024, I thought the band sounded great, but what struck me most of Whitley’s enthusiasm in playing the classic Asia songs, as well as his vocal similarities to John Wetton. So, when news of this line up recording a new studio came out, I was pretty hopeful, and looked forward to it, not to mention that some of these songs were began with Wetton after the band’s last album Gravitas.
So, my first thoughts on Indigo are that this is excellent, as it seems to include all those elements that made Asia great in the beginning. There’s the band’s memorable AOR, progressive pieces, harmonies, and that majestic sound that Asia records seem to posess. The first single and lead off track “The Traveller (Into The Light)” is a great start, upbeat and easily likeable like many early Asia classics, keyboard lead, but we get a cool guitar solo from John Mtchell. The harmonies are perfect, on par with that Asia sound, and Harry Whitley sounds remarkably like Wetton here (and throughout, the similarity is almost a comfort to hear. Initially, I thought this was a bit ‘eavy on the ballads, but songs like “Change Of Heart”, “Arcadia” and “In This Life” all have something different and those memorable melodies from one song to the next. There’s also the lighter piano & guitar ballad “Chesapeake Bay”, which features Steve Howe, and this is one that started with Wetton. But it’s not all lighter material, with the upbeat pop rock of “Night And Day”, as well as “Life In The Sun”, where we get to hear more from John Mitchell on guitar, and then the single “Echo Of You”, which has a lengthy intro before picking up. I like this one, lots of changes, atmosphere, and reflective lyrics. But the centerpiece of this album is the 3 part “Tattoo Indigo”, which brings back prog to Asia, with “Part 1” being an instrumental, which is reminsiscent of that first Asia album, with each player featured here. “Part 2” is an acoustic, vocal piece, and “Part 3” being more of a progressive rock epic, featuring more heavier guitar. This whole album gets better with each listen. Looking forward to holding a physical copy of it with that awesome Roger Dean artwork, and will be curious to hear how much of this fits in to the band’s live show next time out.
Pre-Order INDIGO – HERE
