Crimson Worlds

U.S. Cinematic outfit Whatitdo Archive Group returns to explore the worlds of Mid-Century Exotica and Library Music with “Palace of a Thousand Sounds,” out on May 5th.

BMG will issue The Reunion Albums next month, a five-CD box set featuring material from the 2006 reformed classic line-up of Asia, which featured lead vocalist / bassist John Wetton of King Crimson, guitarist Steve Howe of Yes, keyboardist Geoff Downes of Yes, and drummer Carl Palmer from Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The clamshell box set features Fantasia: Live in Tokyo, a live show from their 2007 World Tour (a two-CD set), and the three subsequent studio albums: Phoenix (2008), Omega (2010) and XXX (2012).

Digitally remastered and expanded two CD edition. Legendary band Asia released the biggest selling album in the world in 1982. The original line-up of the band reunited in 2006 and recorded the studio album Phoenix in 2008. This album features original members Geoff Downes (Yes/The Buggles)/Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (ELP) and John Wetton (King Crimson/UK). The Phoenix album gave rise to the hit An Extraordinary Life, which has been played all around the world, including as the theme to America's Got Talent advertising. This expanded edition collects together the original European version of the album, the two bonus tracks and the US only remix into the same place for the first time ever!

It does not take very long to realize that this is a nicely put together record. The singing is intense in somewhat of a Springsteen/David Eugene Edwards (Woven Hand) manner, but unique from them. The surrounding instrumentation weaves in and out in a folk rock manner at times and works as a full throttle rock band at others. The Singer-Songwriter category does not quite do justice to the songs. I would say rock fans will like this more than people wanting straight folk, but it has a good general appeal to both the crowds seeking lighter thoughtful material and those that want a good rock beat. The music is rather universal and what is truly interesting is that the California duo behind this band has historically done so much better in Europe than in the US. While I often can understand why some great European born music may not translate as well in the US (and vice versa), I have never understood why several great US bands (Wipers, 16 Horsepower) do so much better in Europe. Add this band to that list, as US listeners need to join in. I believe this album of eleven original songs comes with a bonus CD containing a full live set. (David Hintz)

Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if King Crimson and Yes joined forces and played death metal? Well, as unusual as that scenario sounds, the first moments of this album do a great job of answering that musical question. The album is the second for the group, its first self-titled album coming five years and two lineups ago. It shows a band that can firmly tackle the rigors of classic-era progressive rock and infuse it with stylings from musical worlds away. The classic progressive rock sounds are truly far more prevalent on the album than the other sounds (like death metal and industrial), but it is quite impressive and unique for those elements to be present at all. Adding to this disparity of influences is the fact that the progressive bands that seem to have influenced the group are those of the '70s era (King Crimson, Yes, and Genesis) - bands that were less open to those hard rock influences…