Payne, like former frontman John Wetton, is an Englishman, a bass player and a smoothly strong vocalist. This project began around the time of his legal settlement with that other ASIA and neared it's completion around the time of Wetton's unfortunate passing. With more than a decade gone by since its inception this album was quickly becoming its generation's Chinese Democracy and Payne felt that out of respect for the past he should just go with a new band name and identity. What cannot be denied this duke is there is a segment of die-hard prog rockers who prefer J.P.'s tenure and recorded output in ASIA to its more famous forebears. One listen to Payne's convincing urgency tied to the incredible guitar and keyboard work on "Strange Days" will show you just why that's the improbable case. Strange days indeed.