Asia Original Japan 1st Issue

ASIA’s masterpiece and rock’s immortal masterpiece “ASIA (Romantic Sense of Time)”. A reprint of the best sound version has been decided. Not only rock, but historical masterpieces are destined to seek the “ultimate sound”. Maniacs all over the world are looking for the “ultimate experience”, comparing items from all countries, media, and eras to find “which is the best sound?” and continue to debate. Among them, there are albums for which the answer is still unclear, and others for which a certain conclusion has been reached. Our shop has also reported the “conclusions” of maniacs with actual sound, such as the Beatles’ “Abbey Road”, PINK FLOYD’s “Flame” and “Animals”, EL&P’s “Tarkus” and “Fear of Brain Reform”. This work is the ASIA version. So what is the conclusion that maniacs around the world have reached about “ASIA (Romantic Sense of Time)”? It is the Japanese pressing “35DP-25”, which was the world’s first CD. This CD was released in 1983, just one year after the original release. At the time, compact discs were not yet widespread and were a budding medium. In order to popularize them, major record companies at the time released a large number of famous and popular CDs. They released dozens of titles at once. “ASIA (Eijikan: Romance of Time)” was also one of the lineup. (The price was only 3,500 yen.) This Japanese CD is considered the “best” by maniacs, but there is a reason for this. Of course, various remasters have continued to appear since then, but the original master tapes have deteriorated over time, and the sound pressure has been forced to increase due to the “loudness war” that began in the late 1990s. In contrast, the “35DP-25” digitizes the master immediately after the original release without any deterioration, leaving it flat. Even if the digitization technology is crude, the sound “exactly like the real thing” is permanently preserved. Of course, the “35DP-25” from that time is no longer available. Even if you can get a second-hand copy, many of them have been damaged over the past 34 years or become unplayable due to ultraviolet rays. However, the source of this work is a mint quality copy of the “35DP-25” that has been protected from such deterioration. It is as good as new as if it had been sleeping unopened in a basement, and the waveform of the extracted sound does not show any baptism by sunlight. However, due to the fate of the crude CD or technology of the time, the volume was extremely low and the pitch was (very slightly) off. This work is the “highest peak in history” that accurately reproduces the original sound of the “35DP-25” while restoring only these two points (of course, there is no overpeak). The sound that flows from this work is truly “authentic”. The details that have been painted over by numerous digital recordings stand out vividly, and there is no unnaturally grand echo processing. The sound that is closest to the sound that only the recording masters of that time had flows out in abundance. The moist beauty that has been lost in recent albums that are only flashy and dazzling… This is a world of beauty that you can only listen to rather than piling up a thousand words. On January 31, 2017, John Wetton passed away. The headline that danced to the news of his death was “ASIA’s Wetton Passes Away.” Some people may have thought, “Call him former KING CRIMSON,” or “Don’t forget the UK.” He left behind so many great songs and performances with such a wide range of music. I deeply sympathize with his feelings, but still, it was AISIA that remained in the hearts of the most people in his life and was loved by them the most. And there is no doubt that it is “ASIA (Romanticism of Time).” Here is the moment when Wetton was in the spotlight the most in his life and enjoyed life to the fullest. This work is the pinnacle of that. The 35DP-25, on which John Wetton shone most brilliantly, has always existed, and I would like to continue to talk about it from time to time. However, there has never been a better opportunity than now to let more people know about this “treasure” that enthusiasts have uncovered. That’s why this is a gift release. For all those who loved that song, that bass, and that singing voice. Taken from the Japanese CD originally released in 1983 *Flat tranfer, pitch adjusted(+0.553%) (44:27) 1. Heat of the Moment 2. Only Time Will Tell 3. Sole Survivor 4. One Step Closer 5. Time Again 6. Wildest Dreams 7. Without You 8. Cutting It Fine 9. Here Comes the Feeling