Style: prog-rock
Label: self-released
Year: 2009
Home: California
Members: John Payne ~ vocals/bass
Eirk Norlander ~ keyboards
Guthrie Govan ~ guitars
Jay Schellen ~ drums
Most would probably consider this three track & two radio edits release a single with the obligatory B-sides, which I don't review on this blog, but given the history of AFJP & the lack of ensuing recordings Military Man has come to be an EP in disguise ... being both the introduction & only studio recording of more than just new music but also a new era to the band, if not on some level a new band. In the early 80's supergroup Asia hit the scene with prog-rock stalwarts Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Steve Howe & Carl Palmer. They hit MTV hard with a somewhat proggish but heavy commercialized sound, but by their third album had lost the media buzz & even some members. Keyboardist Downes kept the music alive into the next decade with a new line-up, including ex-A-Ha drummer Michael Sturgis & ex-Alice Cooper guitarist Al Pitrelli, who'd go on to Megadeth & Trans-Siberian Orchestra, & guest appearances by Howe & Palmer. But, the most important change to this mix was bassist/singer & new frontman John Payne, who also picked up the writing partnership gap left by the departure of Wetton. In a repeat of history the band would find some modest success while everyone would end up leaving, with Payne being the last man standing this time around. The original Asia line-up would regroup, but for his efforts Payne would be granted the right to continue now billed as Asia Featuring John Payne. Payne would come to find the strongest musical foil/partner in his career in keyboardist Erik Norlander when he recreated the band under the expanded name. In modern prog-piano circles Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess is often seen as the king of the keys, but due to his constant experimentalism & creativity, diversity, large output & understanding of when to throw out flourishes & when to hold back Erik Norlander is surely next in line for the thrown if not the real heir ... but Rudess has the commercial break-through that has eluded Norlander. To innagurate the new name & new line-up AFJP, with Norlander, guitarist Guthrie Govan & drummer Jay Schellen, released Military Man with two re-recorded Asia songs while Norlander contributed a re-recorded track from his solo output. Two radio edits were included of the Asia songs, but are completely unnecessary except to fill in space. Two lives tracks would have been a better inclusion. Being that "Military Man" is one of the later era, or the Payne era as it is often referred, Asia songs that was one of their few hits this little release comes off as feeling like a single for it. But, the fact that AFJP has yet to release any further music, outside of the live album Extended Versions, though they've been steadily writing, touring and recording, retrospect turns this into an EP. Given the changes to the band its also hard to want to dismiss this as just an EP. "Military Man" was first heard on the second Payne era Asia album Aria with Pitrelli, Sturgis and Downes. The changes here are subtle yet influencial. Pitrelli, taking over from Howe, brought to Asia a more hard rock sound that has been retained, while the light touch of Downes has been replaced by the heavier and more varied playing of Norlander. Downes had an airey sound that wants to slip into the background while Norlander carves up an array of layers & nuances missing from the original and steps right into the spotlight without hesitance. Payne's voice has also slightly changed over the years and has actually become more nuanced or at least he now sings in a far less restrained manner using his voice to mold the words not just sing them. The ballad "Long Way From Home" appeared on the album Silent Nation that was Downes' swan song and included Guthrie on guitar and AC/DC's Chris Slade on drums. The outcome is similiar with more nuances and inflection than the original, more highs and lows, both in vocals and instrumentation. It's almost as if playing the songs for so long Payne has finally taken them as his own, even if they were both co-written by Downes. The instrumental "Neurosaur" gives all the focus to Norlander and might be the best way of introducing the new guy to the audiences. A re-recording of a track from his debut solo album the new "Neurosaur" is a much lighter track in feeling and though instrumental and sans John Payne fits well into the mix. Asia's comeback Aqua featured some Steve Howe instrumental songs so this is no strange inclusion. "Military Man" might be one of the best songs John Payne ever wrote and remains a fan favorite with its patriotic theme, even finding it reworked in 2010 for an acoustic online video with just Payne and Norlander. So often when a band re-records old songs the result is questionable, if not weaker, & land unceremoniously on the critic's chopping block. Payne has even been a victim of this by re-recording early Asia hits with a vocal range made for Wetton's tenor, but here the result is a far stronger and less maudlin sound and without the commercial sheen of the 90's. When a band is allowed to reach beyond just having hits that's often when the music truly starts to flow. Many folks will be happy to have the original of these tracks via Aria and Silent Nation, both great unsung Asia albums, but if for no other reason its worth it to check out this EP just to discover Norlander's genious and hear how much stronger a singer Payne has become.
0 responses:
Post a Comment