GPS: Window To The Soul

Cover	Release	Style
	2006-08-28	progressive rock
	Label
	SPV / Inside Out
	Website
	GPS
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	64:18	SPV 48852 CD / IOMCD 247
	Review by	Rating
	Edwin	9,5/10
nederlands	Review
Geoff Downes’s decision to re-unite with the original ASIA members was a two-edged sword. Of course, it will be wonderful to see the original supergroup again – who would challenge that? But it also spelled the end of latter-day ASIA, unfortunately, a band that had shown they were worthy of the legendary name, especially with their latest album, Silent Nation. The remaining members - John Payne, Guthrie Govan and Jay Schellen - didn’t want to quit, though, and decided to continue together, adopting the name GPS. With SPOCK’S BEARD’s Ryo Okumoto on keyboards, they started work on their first album. The result is now ready, and it’s called Window To The Soul. I have to admit that ASIA’s first album is still one of my favourites of all time. But unlike many other ‘original ASIA’ fans, I was equally fond of the Downes/Payne-era band. I was one of those who were very disappointed when this outfit folded earlier this year. It may all have turned out for the better, though, as Window To The Soul is a stunning album, which could never have been made with Downes on board. First of all, don’t expect any radical changes from the ASIA sound. John Payne’s writing style and vocals are too recognizable for that. But it’s hardly a copy of the ASIA sound either. The GPS songs are harder edged, and much more progressive. The main difference is keyboard player Ryo Okumoto. Using many different synthesizer sounds, Hammond, moog, piano and mellotron, he is capable of creating a much richer sound, with a lot more variation than Geoff Downes ever did. His solos are also much more elaborate. The title track, ‘Heaven Can Wait’ and ’New Jerusalem’ show exactly what GPS are about: they are recognizably John Payne compositions, and start out very ASIA-like, but the arrangements are very progressive and the extended instrumental passages are jaw-droppingly good – this is something we heard all too rarely in ASIA. ‘Written On The Wind’ is a terrific ballad, which goes from acoustic to electric, with some bluesy touches thrown in. ‘The Objector’ reminds me of SAGA, and has another incredible keyboard/guitar duel between Okumoto and Govan. Brilliant stuff… In fact, each and every song is a little masterpiece in its own right. No fillers in sight. This is a fantastic debut release for John Payne & Co. My favourite prog album of the year so far – this will take some beating.
Musicians
John Payne: vocals; bass, guitar Jay Schellen: drums, percussion Guthrie Govan: guitars Ryo Okumoto: keyboards
Tracklist
Window To The Soul New Jerusalem Heaven Can Wait Written On The Wind I Believe In Yesterday The Objector All My Life Gold Since You’ve Been Gone Taken Dreams


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