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This disc will ONLY work on a Super Audio Disc Player!
Asia's Third Studio Album!
Astra is the third studio album by British rock band Asia, released in late 1985. It was the final studio album (excluding half studio/half compilation album Then & Now) featuring the original three members, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer and John Wetton until 2008's reunion album Phoenix.
Started in 1984, it marked the return of lead singer John Wetton to the band's lineup, after his departure in September 1983. Wetton had been replaced by Greg Lake, temporarily, for their Tokyo concerts at the Budokan in December 1983. The first night of these shows was advertised as Asia in Asia, and was broadcast over MTV and on Westwood One. Wetton had come back, but Steve Howe departed the Astra early sessions supposedly because of arisen tensions between him and Wetton. Howe was replaced by Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer, formerly of the bands Cobra and Krokus. This change in the band's line-up marked a shift in musical direction for Asia to a more edgy, slightly hard rock sound.
The recording of the album took place at several studios in London during 1984–85. Astra was originally intended to be named "Arcadia", but was changed prior to release to avoid confusion when it was learned that a side project of the same name of Duran Duran was being recorded at the same time. The cover artwork was created by Roger Dean, who had designed Asia's previous records.
"...Astra is nonetheless a solid prog rock outing that finds bassist/vocalist John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes, drummer Carl Palmer, and replacement guitarist, Krokus' Mandy Meyer, delivering a set of melodic and driving rock anthems...Astra is a truly underrated '80s rock album and a must-hear for fans." -Matt Collar, allmusic.com
SHM-SACD (Super High Material SACD) is the ultimate Super Audio CD that utilizes the materials and technologies that were developed for the SHM-CD to further enhance the audio-resolution. These discs are made with polycarbonate developed for the screen of the liquid crystal display. As it has a higher transparency, players can read the signal more faithfully. Also, it excels in fluidity, which enables you to cast a more accurate pit. What works wonders for a low resolution format such as CD should offer even greater sonic improvements in a real high resolution format such as SACD.
Housed in a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 1/2" hinged-lid box which includes inside a full color Mini Insert LP sleeve and booklet with English/Japanese lyrics. The obi surrounding the album replicates the one included in the Japanese first pressing LP.
Features:
• SHM-SACD
• 2-channel Single Layer SACD
• Two-channel SACD layer only, to secure enough reflectance and not to compress DSD file.
• Label of the disc is printed with a special green ink called 'Onsho Shiyou,' which minimizes diffuse reflection.
• Carefully selected master audio is used, from existing DSD files to newly converted from analog tapes.
• This disc will ONLY work on a Super Audio Disc Player
Selections:
1. Go
2. Voice Of America
3. Hard On Me
4. Wishing
5. Countdown To Zero
6. Love Now Til Eternity
7. Too Late
8. Suspicion
9. Rock And Roll Dream
10. After The War
This disc will ONLY work on a Super Audio Disc Player!
Asia's Third Studio Album!
Astra is the third studio album by British rock band Asia, released in late 1985. It was the final studio album (excluding half studio/half compilation album Then & Now) featuring the original three members, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer and John Wetton until 2008's reunion album Phoenix.
Started in 1984, it marked the return of lead singer John Wetton to the band's lineup, after his departure in September 1983. Wetton had been replaced by Greg Lake, temporarily, for their Tokyo concerts at the Budokan in December 1983. The first night of these shows was advertised as Asia in Asia, and was broadcast over MTV and on Westwood One. Wetton had come back, but Steve Howe departed the Astra early sessions supposedly because of arisen tensions between him and Wetton. Howe was replaced by Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer, formerly of the bands Cobra and Krokus. This change in the band's line-up marked a shift in musical direction for Asia to a more edgy, slightly hard rock sound.
The recording of the album took place at several studios in London during 1984–85. Astra was originally intended to be named "Arcadia", but was changed prior to release to avoid confusion when it was learned that a side project of the same name of Duran Duran was being recorded at the same time. The cover artwork was created by Roger Dean, who had designed Asia's previous records.
"...Astra is nonetheless a solid prog rock outing that finds bassist/vocalist John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes, drummer Carl Palmer, and replacement guitarist, Krokus' Mandy Meyer, delivering a set of melodic and driving rock anthems...Astra is a truly underrated '80s rock album and a must-hear for fans." -Matt Collar, allmusic.com
SHM-SACD (Super High Material SACD) is the ultimate Super Audio CD that utilizes the materials and technologies that were developed for the SHM-CD to further enhance the audio-resolution. These discs are made with polycarbonate developed for the screen of the liquid crystal display. As it has a higher transparency, players can read the signal more faithfully. Also, it excels in fluidity, which enables you to cast a more accurate pit. What works wonders for a low resolution format such as CD should offer even greater sonic improvements in a real high resolution format such as SACD. Housed in a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 1/2" hinged-lid box which includes inside a full color Mini Insert LP sleeve and booklet with English/Japanese lyrics. The obi surrounding the album replicates the one included in the Japanese first pressing LP.
Features:
• SHM-SACD
• 2-channel Single Layer SACD
• Two-channel SACD layer only, to secure enough reflectance and not to compress DSD file.
• Label of the disc is printed with a special green ink called 'Onsho Shiyou,' which minimizes diffuse reflection.
• Carefully selected master audio is used, from existing DSD files to newly converted from analog tapes.
• This disc will ONLY work on a Super Audio Disc Player
Selections:
1. Go
2. Voice Of America
3. Hard On Me
4. Wishing
5. Countdown To Zero
6. Love Now Til Eternity
7. Too Late
8. Suspicion
9. Rock And Roll Dream
10. After The War
