Asia/Osaka,Japan 4.16.2025 Complete

The new ASIA, who made their first visit to Japan after the death of John Wetton in 11 years. Two superb original recordings that convey the latest stage that is causing rave reviews will be released simultaneously. This work is the first part of two simultaneous releases. It is a superb audience recording of "April 16, 2025: Osaka performance". Two performances were held on this day, and this work contains both. It is a three-disc set with the 1st show on DISC 1 and the 2nd show on DISC 2-3. After Wetton's death in January 2017, ASIA welcomed Billy Sherwood and Ron Thal as frontmen and continued to work until 2019, but then went on hiatus. In 2024, they started over with the current lineup. Of course, the leader Geoff Downes is also wearing two pairs of straw shoes with YES, and last year they came to Japan with YES. In order to organize the situation around there, let's first take a bird's-eye view of the current ASIA's journey since its birth. 2024 {April 23: New lineup for ASIA announced} ・YES: April 25-June 4: Europe (25 shows) *ASIA: July 3-31: North America (18 shows) ・YES: August 14-September 8: North America #1 (18 shows) ・YES: September 16-25: Japan (6 shows) ←※OSAKA 2024 and others 2025 *ASIA: April 10-12: Sussex (3 shows) *ASIA: April 15+16: Osaka (4 shows) ←★here★ *ASIA: April 18+19: Tokyo (4 shows) ←※TOKYO 2025 THE LAST SHOW *ASIA: April 25: Frontiers Rock Festival VII appearance This is the schedule for 2024/2025 that has been announced so far. Last year, they toured North America in between YES shows, but this year it's only ASIA. This time, their visit to Japan was "4 days x 2 performances in Tokyo and Osaka = 8 performances in total". Among them, the second day of Osaka is recorded in this work. Since there are two performances a day, it is a set of two performances. This work, which conveys such two performances, is a superb product. After all, the one who worked on this work (for both performances) is Mr. "West Japan's Strongest Taper", who is familiar to our store. This time too, it is worthy of being called "like a sound board". The direct feeling of the extremely thick core is on so much that it is hard to believe it is a spatial recording, and the fine details and separation are also tremendous. Even if you listen carefully with headphones, the only thing that sounds like an audience is the tone of the snare. It is filled with the same listening response as FM broadcasting (by the way, last year's YES masterpiece "OSAKA 2024" was also made by Mr. "Strongest". It is also a sister work that allows you to enjoy two bands by Geoff Downes in the same recording artist collection). Such a dense direct sound depicts a full show that has caused great acclaim far beyond expectations. The set is based on a complete reproduction of the masterpiece "Romantic Time", but it is not just that. Here, let's organize the set contents of both performances. Common to both performances (10 songs) ・ Romantic Time (complete reproduction): Heat Of The Moment / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / One Step Closer / Time Again / Wildest Dreams / Without You / Cutting It Fine / Here Comes The Feeling ・ Other: Video Killed The Radio Star Replacement songs (4 songs each) ・ 1st show: The Heat Goes On (★) / Daylight (★) / Midnight Sun (★) / Go (★) ・ 2nd show: Don't Cry / Rock and Roll Dream (★) / An Extraordinary Life (★) / Open Your Eyes (★) *Note: The "★" mark is a song that cannot be heard in "TOKYO 2025 THE LAST SHOW (Amity 806)" released at the same time. ...And so it is. The show for both shows was structured as "3 songs -> 1st revival -> 2 songs", with the only songs in common being all the songs from "Romance for Time" and the last encore song "Video Killed The Radio Star". The remaining 4 songs were replaced songs. The replacement songs are also a point. While there are standard songs such as "The Heat Goes On", "Don't Cry" and "Open Your Eyes", the rare songs are also really delicious. For example, "Daylight" is a single B-side song that was only performed during the debut period and the early days of the reunion, and "Midnight Sun" was performed in Japan for the first time. "Rock and Roll Dream" was also performed in Japan for the first time in 33 years since the John Payne era in 1992. And more than the set, it is the performance itself that is the reason for the rave reviews. John Mitchell and the talented Virgil Donati, who backed Wetton, were also wonderful without complaint, but the most notable one is vocalist and bassist Harry Whitley! His singing voice sounds as if Wetton is possessed by him. If you listen closely, the voice quality is "close" to Wetton's, but it's not so similar that you can't tell them apart. However, the way he sings, the way he raises his voice, the vibrato and pronunciation are very Wetton-like. Moreover, it also brings out the Wetton in my memory, and even creates the illusion that "Wetton is there." Yes's John Davison, Journey's Arnel Pineda, and Steve Hackett Band's Nad Sylvain are all amazing, but ASIA has also found some incredible talent. The new ASIA has been revived with Harry Whitley's wonderful singing voice. This is an exquisite original recording set that will teach you its true value. I never thought ASIA would play such wonderful music in 2025... A big three-disc set that will stir up all kinds of emotions. A superb audience recording of "April 16, 2025: Osaka (1st show/2nd show)". This is the latest work by the familiar "Western Japan's Strongest Taper", and this time it is a masterpiece that goes "like a sound board". The direct feeling of the thick core on is so strong that it is hard to believe it is a spatial recording, and the fine details and separation are also tremendous. You can enjoy two full performances of the complete reproduction of "Romance to Time", revived by the singing voice of newcomer Harry Whitley, who seems to be possessed by Wetton. Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka, Japan 16th April 2025 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) 1st Show Disc:1 (79:51) 1. Intro 2. The Heat Goes On 3. Daylight★ 4. Midnight Sun★ 5. Heat of the Moment 6. Only Time Will Tell 7. Sole Survivor 8. One Step Closer 9. Time Again 10. Wildest Dreams 11. Without You 12. Cutting It Fine 13. Here Comes the Feeling 14. Go★ 15. Band Introductions 16. Video Killed the Radio Star 2nd Show Disc:2 (50:50) 1. Intro 2. Don't Cry 3. Rock and Roll Dream★ 4. An Extraordinary Life★ 5. Heat of the Moment 6. Only Time Will Tell 7. Sole Survivor 8. One Step Closer 9. Time Again 10. Wildest Dreams Disc:3 (33:40) 1. Without You 2. Cutting It Fine 3. Here Comes the Feeling 4. Band Introductions 5. Open Your Eyes★ 6. Video Killed the Radio Star Geoff Downes - keyboards, backing vocals Virgil Donati - drums Harry Whitley - bass, vocals John Mitchell - guitar, backing vocals