POINT OF KNOW RETURN

Kansas

Symphonic Prog

4.18 | 906 ratings

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Lupton

Kansas- Point Of Know Return

After their breakthrough album "Leftoverture"-no doubt helped by the album's first hit single -Carry On Wayward Son" Kansas stepped up a couple of notches to produce their masterpiece-"Point Of Know Return". In retrospect this album could not have been more different.Instead of trying to emulate their British counterparts especially Gentle Giant on tracks like "Miracles Out Of Nowhere" from "Leftoverture" which actually bogged them down, this time they focused on developing their own sound which was more straight hard rock with ornate embellishments which made for a much more powerful album.

Steve Walsh -somewhat missing in action on the songwriting front on the last album steps up and hits a six with the opening title track.It truly is a perfect Prog-Pop song with a catchy chorus with a tight little violin motif, and an impassioned middle eight, all in just over three minutes. He also unleashes his inner Keith Emerson on the breathless two minute Toccatta styled "Spider" - an absolute sonic Progfest which showcases the whole band.I far prefer this to the somewhat bloated "Magnum Opus" from the previous album.The album also contained another absolute Classic hit single- "Dust In The Wind".This all-acoustic song apparently based on Kerry Livgren's fingerpicking exercises is truly beautiful with an absolutely gorgeous violin solo.Elsewhere the band simply rock like bastards especially on tracks like "Lightning's Hand"

The production on this album is absolutely top class- loud and punchy (except "Dust) with a great bass sound and I particularly like Phil Ehart's powerful drumming.No wonder he was plucked alongside Steve Walsh by Steve Hackett to play on his Please Don't Touch" album.

In short an absolute blast of an album.Five stars.

Lupton | 5/5 | 2018-9-12

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