GPS
Window To The Soul

"Ah, really?? You kick me out of Asia to reunite the original lineup?? You throw me out right during the recordings of the last album? Then I'll show you what I can do without you".

I imagine John Payne thought something very similar when the famous keyboardist Geoff Downes, who worked with Yes but especially with Asia, booted out the poor bassist and singer in 2006 to take back John Wetton and the Howe/Palmer crew.

Better this way, anyway, because while four old guys are recycling the sounds of the first two albums over and over again with a new one, "Phoenix", John Payne forms GPS with the other exiled musicians and in 2006 releases "Window To The Soul", a debut perfectly fresh and musically new. Sure, until 2006 we were already used to a John Payne who wrote his pieces, yes, but always under the watchful eye of the keyboardist, who never wanted to stray too far from the style created over time with the various group formations. Now instead we find a John Payne in the full swing of his artistic vein, free to let the best of himself out of his mind, and especially free to decide whatever he wants. He is not, however, the only one to seem reborn: Guthrie Govan plays his guitar in a much more virtuosic way, making a great impression and having nothing to envy from the big names of the six strings; not to mention drummer Jay Schellen, also very much in shape. To the enthusiasm of these three musicians, add the technique of Spock's Beard's keyboardist, Ryo Okumoto. The result is magnificent.

The genre of GPS is thus very far from Asia. With pieces that all vary between 5 and 8 minutes, and with instrumental deviations that extend with might, we're talking about true and pure progressive rock, with many hints of metal, all sprinkled with a pinch of melody here and there.

This is already observable in the first piece, the superb title track, which immediately offers strong emotions. Hard and powerful on its own, it is made even sharper by Payne's "new" voice, much rougher and hoarser than before and in some ways much improved, and the instruments manage well to come together in a whole of great sounds, especially great are the keyboard and guitar solos, brilliantly intersected.

Still slightly influenced by Asia are "New Jerusalem", "I Believe In Yesterday" and "Since You've Been Gone", as they were written during the recordings of their last never-completed album (which should have been titled Architect of Time). The personality of the musicians is, however, very marked even here, I believe in fact that if the album were under the name Asia, these songs would have been very different.

Completely different in style are the very prog interlude of "Heaven Can Wait" and the Arab-like "The Objector". But an aside praise goes anyway to the fantastic and moving "Written In The Wind" which boasts a touching and stirring intro and magnificent lyrics.

The musical level of the album is thus excellent, in my opinion, to be listened to all at once in those moments when one needs a boost.

Comparisons are always hateful, I know, but if we really want to make this comparison, well yes, John Payne won, while Geoff Downes really lost, because compared to "Window To The Soul", the Asian "Phoenix" almost disappears completely.