ASIA – Indigo

RELEASE YEAR: 2026
BAND URL: https://originalasia.com/

From prog rock containing pop-esque hooks to hard rock and further on to the most atmospheric of ballads, Asia were one of a kind. Judging by the quality of this upcoming opus of theirs featuring a sparkling new line-up consisting of mainstay Geoff Downes (keyboards), Virgil Donati (drums), John Mitchell (guitar), and Harry Whitley (bass and vocals), there are several things to get excited about here, and Indigo proudly displays that Asia is still a musically relevant proposition with plenty of mileage left in the creative tank.

Whereas the records from the eighties arguably contained material with a little more longevity to it not to mention possessing a bigger dose of that indefinable infectiousness that made the compositions so special and oftentimes magical, there is a remarkably good flow to Indigo and an emotional depth to it that is most welcome – prime examples being the exquisitely crafted “Change of Heart,” “Hymn for the Fallen,” and “Tattoo Indigo (Part II).” There are quite a few catchy and memorable tracks to be found on their 2026 offering as well as countless soaring melodies, and the extraordinary amount of joy and enthusiasm that courses through its fifteen songs (sixteen if you count the bonus track featuring a certain Mr. Portnoy on drums) is a delight. The sophisticated and beautifully drifting synthesizer textures courtesy of Downes are magnificent, especially in “Tattoo Indigo (Part I)” and “Tattoo Indigo (Part III)” – both of which are album highlights (not least because Mitchell’s vocals truly hit the spot here and carry power and pathos in equal measure).

With a strong line-up that contains more pedigree than most and a fine collection of brand-new, elegant prog-ish tunes in the bag, the future is once again looking bright for this immensely talented outfit, and one can only hope that they will tour Europe in 2027.