THE ABSENCE OF PRESENCE

In 2011 a dream came true when I finally witnessed my first Kansas gig, since I became a Kansas fan after buying their first two LP's in 1975. I was also pleased with their comeback album The Prelude Implicit from 2016. So how about this new Kansas album, with only two founding members (Williams and Ehart)?

Well, the start is very promising with the dynamic opener, the titletrack: lots of shifting moods, the exciting Holy Trinity of keyboards, guitar and violin, this is trademark Heavy Prog Seventies Kansas, wow! The second track is also exciting featuring an ultra bombastic and heavy sound with powerful Hammond waves and blistering guitar, the singer does a good job. But then the compositions turn mainly into AOR, with some prog tendencies, very well arranged, featuring strong interplay, excellent work on guitar, keyboards and violin, the singer his voice matches perfectly with this AOR friendly Kansas sound, but I miss the elaborate and captivating music from the first two tracks.

Those who love the AOR side of Kansas will be very pleased with this new Kansas album, but I am glad I have seen the band in 2011 (featuring the versatile Steve 'Mr Kansas' Walsh), this new Kansas is not really my cup of tea.

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