Band: Icon
Album title: 3
Label: Frontiers
Distributor: Rough Trade
Release date: 13/03/2009
Release: CD

Catching Up, Part II (see also reviews of Great White and Street Legal)!
With the busy touring schedule John Wetton and Geoffrey Downes were enjoying with the “Original line-Up” Asia, I had thought that Icon would’ve been laid to rest, but hear, see…the two have come to the undersstanding that what they do as a duo is quite different from what happens in Asia. Yeah man, the sinergy between these two guys (both vocally and musicaly) is so unique, so emotional, and…while sóme of it is bound to come through in Asia…still best displayed in their own project iCon (I’ve come to understand that thàt is the correct way to write it)!

Taking advantage of a short break in Asia’s touring, the two set themselves at their trusted piano and composed 11 new masterpieces with varying intensities. Some songs are rather guitar driven, and it’s where hired gun…sorry guitarist…Dave Kilminster (fresh from tours with Roger Waters and Keith Emerson) gets a chance to shine, and shine he does! What an axeman! Even if you still get the fair amount of classy ballads with great melodies and vocal lines, the man’s participation makes this the “heaviest” iCon album this far! As per usual, former ELO cellist Hugh McDowell brings his special touch to some of the calmer songs, aided by harp player Andrreas Vollenweider (renowned New Age musician) on two tracks (ballad “Raven” and the album’s instrumental “Anna’s Kiss”). On the drums, the magnetic duo chose to use Pete Riley (considered one of the world’s best drummers, playing with Keith Emerson), and the last guest on the album was vocalist Anne-Marie Helder (of Karnataka and Mostly Autumn fame), bringing her female touch to three songs (the already mentioned “Raven”, plus “Don’t Go out Tonight” and the album closing “Peace In Our Time”, the title of which comes to me like a silent but utterly tormented wishful scream…and I’m sure the “Om” symbol on the cover has something to do with that song, as it is, after all, considered a somewhat universal symbol for peace).

As per usual, each and every song on the album is a hit song, either for being an incredibly beautiful ballad, or because of the way the guitars are filled in, or simply because of…well, that sinergy between the two antagonists, right? You can listen to 4 samples off the new album at myspace.com/wettondownesicon if you need convincing of iCon’s qualities. But really, if you’ve come in contact with iCon before, you know what to expect and how to react accordingly. Well, in case you’ve found previous iCon albums to be somewhat light for you, you may still change your ideas on the band with this album! Personally, I’ve found a worthy addition to my “Best Albums Of 2009”-list!

98/100

Tony.