FOX, ROBERT - ASFAFA 2 (2014 EXPANDED RERECORDING OF SYNTH EPIC)

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2014 Expanded re-recording of 1991 debut that was considered by many to be a classic of the electronic music genre and the seminal Robert Fox album!

Way back in 1991 CDS was only five years old and finding its way is the Synth (and other) music markets, constantly looking to grow and bring new artists to the attention of our rapidly expanding customer-base.

Like many others from the great crop of British synth musicians of the late 80’s/early 90’s, Robert Fox’s ‘Asfafa’ first appeared at CDS Towers as a demo cassette tape. This was a brand new musician looking for guidance as to how to market music he had been putting his life and soul into for some time, and I have to say that I remember being particularly enthusiastic about ‘Asfafa’ – one of the selected few to generate a real impression on me when I was first asked to offer an opinion the music in contained.

After sampling the majestic work, I can honestly say that I was blown away by what I heard!
This wonderful recording had all the hallmarks of a classic Ethereal Space Music album in the making, and I was certain it was going to very quickly going elevate this artist's name high on the list of great British - and indeed worldwide - synth music composers!
I could hardly wait to pick up the phone and encourage Fox to release it!

Robert was so encouraged by my reaction that he decided to make the long journey north to visit us, and the result of that meeting was that Fox would independently produce a CD of the album, and CDS would get behind the release in a big way and market it to our growing “Synth Music” customer base… and so ‘Asfafa’ has born.

Over the following few months sales for the album gradually became a bit of a phenomenon for CDS, and this lead to a future deal for Fox with AD Music, a label founded and owned by another CDS promoted artist of the early 90’s: David Wright, with whom Fox would produce future solo albums and collaborate in the CODE INDIGO crossover project.

Now, almost a quarter of a decade on, Robert Fox is one of the UK’s leading exponents of symphonic ethereal synth music and a well-established artist still at the top of his game!
He is one of the few musicians who, with his early works in particular, can create a melodic, grandiose sound on a scale to rival Vangelis, but with his own identity shining through.

Robert Fox has now quite rightly decided to re-visit this classic ‘Asfafa’ album with a complete re-recording of the work, and in the process he has added ten more minutes of new music to the epic production.
Some might ask why, and I would agree, especially as this is an album that is pretty close to my heart, so I approached the release with a certain level of trepidation.
Happily I can announce that there was no need for concern, because this new version has lost none of the charm of the original, and indeed is greatly enhanced by the renovation job Fox has done on it with the assistance or technology unavailable at the time the original was created.
‘Asfafa 2’ is a welcome reminder of those heady days in the early 90’s, and this stunning re-recording has now made it a classic album for the 21st Century as well!

The recording of ‘Asfafa 2’ was a labour of love for Fox and the re-imagining of this classic album indeed scales new heights. Fox cleverly stays true to the original while at the same time makes minor enhancements and adds new music that sits perfectly alongside the original tracks. Fans will be delighted that the “Journey” feel and indeed the “mystique” that surrounded the original album remains perfectly intact on ‘Asfafa 2’.

The release of ‘Asfafa 2’ has prompted me into raiding the original CDS Towers’ review archives and publish the text here, to help convey just how enthusiastic I was back in 1991 when ‘Asfafa’ first came to my attention…

“‘Asfafa – A Journey’ is a stunning fifty minute / 9 track mystical montage of cosmic, symphonic synths, heavenly voices, and intricate percussion work. It is a flawless, atmospheric production that features emotional and melodic themes that lift the spirit and penetrate a higher consciousness. A light rhythmic driving force travels through some tracks, gently weaving patterns through waves of lush symphonic strings and angelic voices, evoking visions of great peace within beautiful other worlds, - and all this is achieved without the use of the sampled natural sounds that are commonplace in these times.
This album’s music is synonymous with that of Constance Demby’s classic USA release ‘Novus Magnificat - Through The Stargate’, one of the all-time success stories of the USA Space Music scene, and also with classic Klaus Schulze in orchestral ‘X’ mode!
This is a truly wonderful recording that has all the hallmarks of a classic space music album… Welcome to the beautiful and ethereal world of Robert Fox”.

‘Asfafa 2’ is released on 12th May 2014.

ROBERT FOX: ASFAFA 2 Track List:

01. A Wing And A Prayer (2:14)
02. Distant Horizons (6:11)
03. Chasing The Sun (6:52)
04. Native (6:57)
05. A Wing And A Prayer {Reprise} (2:44)
06. Blue Skies, Dark Clouds (10:59)
07. Over Turquoise Seas (8:14)
08. Tongue Of The Ocean (5:02)
09. Mainland To Mountain (12:21)
10. Roof Of The World (1:48)

TPT – 63:28