Abstract Sounds
2005
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About This Album
The songwriting core of '80s supergroup Asia was vocalist/bassist John Wetton and keyboardist Geoffrey Downes. Guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Carl Palmer contributed to the awesome whole, but virtually every song on 1982's number-one behemoth Asia and 1983's Alpha were officially credited to Wetton and Downes. After the original lineup splintered following those two albums, Downes continued to lead various incarnations of the group with occasional, gradually dwindling involvement from the others. Wetton and Downes resumed writing together from time to time, and finally pooled their talents to record 2005's Icon, which is what they also named this duo project itself. Icon was released in Europe in 2005 and then in the United States in 2006 with three bonus tracks added. It should surprise no one that Icon sounds a good bit like Asia, with Wetton's rich voice and Downes' keyboards both serving up the central melodies and hooks. Supporting Wetton and Downes are guitarist John Mitchell, cellist Hugh McDowell, drummer Steve Christey, guest vocalist Annie Haslam, and flutist Ian McDonald, like Wetton a former King Crimson member as well as a Foreigner alumnus. Musically speaking, Downes' keyboards and McDowell's cello tend to dominate the album.
Track List

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