KANSAS

Kansas' very American progressive rock style thoroughly starts on this very first album. They are six musicians who play very loaded & complex music here. The omnipresent violins take about as much room as the electric guitars. The band relies very much on backing vocals a la Styx, and this contributes to give them a very American style. They can be quite American hard rock, as reveal the common electric guitar parts: their hard rock parts sound a bit like the bands Styx and Shooting Star . There is an omnipresent rhythmic piano a bit a la Kayak. There is also an omnipresent conventional rhythmic organ. Kansas' trademark however consists in complex & synchronized progressive parts where violin takes a major place: those bits are absolutely loaded, fast and VERY structured; they seem to be built around a very melodic bass; they are numerous here, for instance on "Journey from Mariabronn", "Can I tell You", "Bringing", "Belexes" and "Apercu". "Apercu" is particularly impressive, very rhythm changing, catchy and complex. This record is among their best ones.

Rating: 4.5 stars