Downes Braide Association -Trauma - Progressive Voyages Review
Trauma is the sixth and latest album from the duo of Chris Braides and Geoff Downes, Braides is a successful pop songwriter for the likes of Sia, Britney Spears and Beyonce to name but three, Geoff Downes of course is current Yes Keyboard player and also the sole surviving of ThecOriginal Asia lineup - ( I do realise that Carl Palmer is still around is is Steve Howe - but both of those fellows are no longer involved in Asia).
This new album has 10 tracks including the epic length Lake Of Memories, As per previous releases the cover art comes from Roger Dean. This new album has a theme of Trauma and all those memories that hinder us because they still haunt us and cause us issues and problems in our lives,
The duo are assisted by Drummer Ash Soan, Bassist Andy Hodge and guitarist Dave Bainbridge, with Downes providing keyboards and braides offering vocals and guitars, there's also the flute of David Longdon from an earlier session that has been incorporated into the album.
The album starts with Hello Hello, This is an energetic opening song with great lyrics it has a strong chorus of Hello Hello Hello and is a very positive song especially with the line HoldcTight I'm Right Beside so we know that support is at hand.
The albums title track Trauma is next this is a longer song at over 8 minutes duration, Again this is another strong s9ng with bgreatvkeyboards and a strong rhythm section pounding away, the lyrics here are very well written and delivered as they speak of You Are Not Your Trauma Or The Residue. Very insightful and liberating, the guitar solo from Dave Bainbridge is suitably epic as well.
King Of Karma uses chords remniscent of Asia's Heat Of The Moment but swiftly diverts into something entirely different. This song addresses the issue of familial trauma, Abuse and neglect etc and how this often continues down through the family line, it is a very hard hitting song but not without compassion.
The next track is Wonderland This song appears to be about an unexpectedd loss perhaps of a parent who either left or died, Hence the title Wonderland the song is about being abandoned, it is a fine song actually far more upbeat than the subject matter, I really enjoyed it.
Love And Loss is next, This is about someone who has a split life part with those he loves and another part where he has to travel and live away from those he loves. The song shows the pain of that separation deeply.
Wish I'd known follows and this is this about understanding why you can't be loved freely by someone who has already been broken by life, its a sad song but a moving one.
Juliet is about a girl who kills her sister, it is all documented in her diary but she escapes the blame and is free to move away and possibly to do the same elsewhere a short song this one.tThis is sung by Marc Almond.,
Lake Of Memories is next this is the albums longest track and possibly its centrepiece, It concerns itself with memories that we suppress, Childhood memories in the main, Things we can't do anything about now the moment has gone all we can do is ruminate on them,this song has a great middle section including a slide guitar section from Dave Bainbridge, this is a vey meaningful song of regrets and missed opportunities to rectify um unresolved conversations.the bass part on this track is masterfully delivered and really adds to thestrength of this excellent track.
Final track is Wherever You Are Now, This is a heartfelt song of sadness for a lost love or friend, One who left tooo soon and for who that loss is still deeply felt on a regular basis.
This is another wonderful album from Downes Braides Association. One that can stand proudly alongside their earlier albums. The vocals are suitably f8ne as are the keyboard elements of Geoff Downes. In short this is a strong album of great material and strong performances.
Info here: DBA: Trauma, CD Edition by Downes Braide Association (DBA) - Cherry Red https://share.google/hkXBDe8pkL0X605yU
Author John Wenlock-Smith Wednesday 23rd September 2026.