POINT OF KNOW RETURN

Well, here's just another enthousiastic reviewer, as the many this band has already inspired during their career and also thanks to this website. The story is simple. After having purchased the famous great classic "Leftoverture", almost everyone is forced to go on with his Kansas' discography. And, as a natural consequence, it often happens people put their hands on its acclaimed successor "Point of Know Return". This is my story also. Not very interesting, I admit it, neither intriguing. But the album is.

As I said in the previous comment I posted some months ago, the wonderful thing about Kansas is that I'm now (without any doubt) sure that they sound unique, as no one else do or did. Their american mood is not simply the icing on the cake or, worst, a misprint in prog. It's just their fabulous visiting card, a new dimension for prog that doesn't search for unfruitful comparisons, but for new formulas. This is what I feel whil I'm listening to this peculiar band and, oh yes, they are 100% prog their own US way!

From the album's anguishing cover to the building of the tracking list, there's a catching progression to musical excitement. The only weak point, if there is any (and I'm not very original to say that), is the lack of any other "Magnum Opus". In fact the album is based on 10 more shorter and conventional (as for running time) tunes, despite only some little extended performances as in the closing part of each side: "Closet Cronicles" for side A (6,31 mns) and "Hopelessly Human" for side B (7,17).

Apart from the big-selling glory "Dust in the Wind" with amazing acoustic guitar's and violin's interplay (this song is a real gem), the general mood goes symphonic: sometimes it's tingued with that "mainstream" rock from beyond the Atlantic ocean; other times is the most intriguing prog I've listened to lately. I'm thinking, for example, to the opener "Point of Know Return" and the "sparkling" "Sparks in the Tempest"on one hand. And to the fast tempo "Paradox" and "The Spider", on the other hand. Great, with some light ELP's and Yes' references.

If you're not interested in complex, brutal and avantguard prog, this album is certainly worthy of special attention. Wonderful music.