POINT OF KNOW RETURN

Point Of Know Return. Its beautiful and enigmatic cover. Where is the ship going to dive ? Will it dislocate or not ? Where is the prow fighting its way through on the back cover ? Will our heroes fall into space and finally land on an Indian monolith for a new adventure ?

The truth is that once again Kansas takes you on board for a magic journey with POKR. The scenario is clever since it hooks you right from the start with an immediately catchy tune, "POKR", the album title's eponym song. Then you travel across three classic Kansas tracks, particularly enjoying to get caught in the web of the beautiful instrumental "The Spider". That leads you to the two gems (at least mine) of the album : the imposing "Closet Chronicles" and the powerful "Lightning's Hand". I confess a true love for this last one. I can't get weary of the guitar solos crossing violin in a furious and moving battle that surpasses nearly anything progressive metal has to offer. Play it LOUD, again and again. Now you enter the place where the band has put its ultimate trump card. "Dust In The Wind" : the Kansas' worldwide hit, the only one that still gets some airplay once or twice a year on French radios (I can't speak for other countries). Ultimate trump card ? Well, I have never been a great fan of this song. I don't say it's bad, it just doesn't move me much or at least not at each listen. Plus, I find kind of unfortunate that Kansas is solely known by most people for a song that is not representative at all of the band's music. Anyway, it gives you time to rest before diving again in "The Sparks Of The Tempest", another forerunner of the progressive metal genre. It drifts you ashore of "Nobody's Home", a majestic ballad. The travel ends with the sumptuous (but, to be honest, quite pompous) "Hopelessly Human".

So, did you enjoy your journey ? I surely did. And should you put POKR on your progressive shelf ? It looks good. It is good. A classic indeed. Another five stars ? I am afraid, yes .