Special Edition with Extra tracks
mp3 CBR 320k – 180Mb | covers | 3% recovery | rs.com
Windstorm Records 2001, US | 670211-3003-2

1 Awake
2 Wherever You Are
3 Ready to Go Home
4 The Last Time
5 Forgive Me
6 Kings of the Day
7 On the Coldest Day in Hell
8 Free
9 You're the Stranger
10 The Longest Night
11 Aura
12 Under the Gun*
13 Come Make My Day*
14 Hands of Time*
* Extra Tracks

Geoff Downes: Keyboards,
John Payne: Lead Vocals, Bass & Guitar
Guitars: Steve Howe, Elliott Randall, Pat Thrall, Ian Crichton, Guthrie Govan
Bass: Tony Levin.
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta, Simon Phillips, Chris Slade, Michael Sturgis

“ Asia with John Payne is still Asia, and a better one at that.
Aura is a testimony of how the band has come to mature, musically and lyrically into the solid creative relationship between Downes and Payne. The titles are no longer clichés, the lyrics have improved immensely and the music is more than expect of Asia.
Aura has many moods to it, with the underlining theme of spirituality and how it affects us as a society and as individuals, from war to tele-evangelism to the loss of a loved one. Yet, there is an uplifting and mystical quality to the album, songs like "Awake", "Kings of the Day" and "Free" are the kind of songs that make you want to get up in the morning. The lyrics are very honest and seem very personal at times.
The album is layered, and the list of guest musicians is astounding (any album who unites Tony Levin, Pat Thrall, Steve Howe, Vinny Colaiuta and Ian Chricton has to be good).
Overall the album is great, "You are the Stranger", "Kings of the Day", "Forgive Me","Aura" and "Free" stand out, but every song has a story and, like anything well done, there is an intangible quality to Aura. It's comforting to know that with albums like this, Asia will be around for a good long time.
~ Fernando (Seattle, WA USA) ”