Production
Asia began to work on the new album in the end of June 2013. As this time they decided not to invite an outside producer, it was produced by Wetton and keyboard player Geoff Downes. The instruments were recorded at Steve Rispin's Liscombe Park Studios, located in Buckinghamshire countryside west of Bedfordshire town Leighton Buzzard, where the group had worked on all their previous studio recordings since the reunion in 2006. The vocals were done at Aubitt Studios in Southampton, Hampshire, by Rob Aubrey. The album was mixed and mastered by John Mitchell at Outhouse Studios in Reading, Berkshire, from October to December 2013. "I Would Die for You" was written by Wetton and Downes in 1986 as opposed to the rest of the songs, which were composed in 2013.
Gravitas was originally announced under the name of Valkyrie,[3] but the title was later changed. The cover artwork was designed by Roger Dean, who had collaborated with Asia since their debut album, released in 1982.
Reception
Matt Collar gave the album a rating of three stars out of five on AllMusic. He noted that "Asia have always moved back and forth between their radio-friendly pop side and more classical-influenced progressive side" and Gravitas "bends more toward the latter, showcasing Downes and Wetton's longstanding partnership as thoughtful songwriters and technically proficient arrangers". "Valkyrie", "Nyctophobia" and "I Would Die for You" were selected as three "Track Picks".[1]
Gravitas was less successful in terms of sales than its predecessor, but still managed to reach UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200.
Track listing
All tracks written by Geoff Downes and John Wetton.
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1. | "Valkyrie" | 5:26 |
2. | "Gravitas"
- (i). "Lento"
- (ii). "Gravitas"
| 8:00 |
3. | "The Closer I Get to You" | 6:38 |
4. | "Nyctophobia" | 5:12 |
5. | "Russian Dolls" | 5:06 |
6. | "Heaven Help Me Now"
- (i). "Wings of Angels"
- (ii). "Prelude"
- (iii.) "Heaven Help Me Now"
| 5:39 |
7. | "I Would Die for You" | 3:11 |
8. | "Joe DiMaggio's Glove" | 4:31 |
9. | "Till We Meet Again" | 4:04 |
Total length: | 47:46 |
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10. | "Russian Dolls" (acoustic) | 4:47 |
Total length: | 52:33 |
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10. | "The Closer I Get to You" (acoustic) | 6:41 |
11. | "Joe DiMaggio's Glove" (acoustic) | 4:34 |
Total length: | 59:01 |
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10. | "The Closer I Get to You" (acoustic) | 6:41 |
11. | "Joe DiMaggio's Glove" (acoustic) | 4:34 |
12. | "Russian Dolls" (acoustic) | 4:47 |
Total length: | 63:48 |
Personnel
Additional musicians
- Katinka Kleijn – cello (on "Valkyrie")
Technical personnel
- Steve Rispin – engineer
- Rob Aubrey – engineer (vocals) (at Aubitt Studios, Southampton, Hampshire)
- John Mitchell – mixing and mastering engineer (at Outhouse Studios, Reading, Berkshire)
- Devin DeHaven – producer and director ("Valkyrie" music video and the making of Gravitas)
- Roger Dean – paintings, logotypes
- Michael Inns – photography
- John Price – photography
Release history
Region | Date | Label | Format |
Japan | 19 March 2014 | Ward |
- CD
- Deluxe edition CD/DVD-V
|
Europe | 21 March 2014 | Frontiers |
- CD
- Deluxe edition CD/DVD-V
|
Soulfood | LP |
North America | 25 March 2014 | Frontiers |
- CD
- Deluxe edition CD/DVD-V
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References
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Studio albums | |
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Extended plays | |
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Live albums | |
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Compilations | |
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Singles | |
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