Kansas – The Absence of Presence
I have been a Kansas fan, ever since their debut album in 1974. I remember listening to “Lonely Wind”, “Journey from Mariabronn”, and “The Death of Mother Nature Suite”, on vinyl, in my room, in my teens. Like many people, I was also a fan of their sophomore album, Song for America, with its title track and “Incomudro (Hymn to the Atman)”. However, it was Leftoverture, that blew us all away. One of the greatest albums of all time, and a record breaker that put this band on the map of stars forever. Then came Point of Know Return, and later Vinyl Confessions. Then, suddenly after Somewhere to Elsewhere, (Steve Walsh’ last album as lead singer with the band), the music stopped. Only to be re-born again with The Prelude Implicit, in 2016.
With an over 50-year legacy, this band has always stood for something more than music and money. Sure, they have done well with both, over their career. There is a message with each Kansas record, and it lies well beyond the music. It is the shared values of the people of the American Heartland.
Kansas, the state, was historically, both a transit point for Americans moving further west, back in the 19th Century, and also a home. People transiting through would be cared for in a way that would become renowned. It often became a home to those who were too tired to go any further, or who realized, Kansas, with its abundant and fertile land, was the paradise they were searching for after all.
In the early days the band tried to establish those ties to the land. The stories they told were both historic and amazing, musically. But it was always about the importance of kinship and the bonds of unity. If you look at the titles, or read the lyrics to the songs, you’ll find it.
With that core understood, we now proceed to the brand-new album which they will deliver on June 26, 2020, The Absence of Presence. Kansas, like all bands have their signature sound recipes. For Rush is was the stellar bass and unique drums, for Yes, almost divine lyrics, and for Jethro Tull, the power of the flute. But for Kansas, it was the power of the strings that separated their sound from the rest of the field. The violin was king, and they used it so magically. Robby Steinhardt, became a household name back in the ‘70s with his playing.
The only thing missing for me, and it will perpetually handicap them, is the loss of Steve Walsh. One of the greatest songwriters and singers of ‘70s progressive rock. He left the band, in 2014. He wrote such classics as “The Wall’, (three years prior to Roger Walters’ masterpiece), “Point of No Return”, and “Portrait, (He Knew)”. In all, he gave voice to most of Kansas’ famous songs.
Today the band is made up of: Ronnie Platt, on lead and backing vocals; Rich Williams, on electric/acoustic guitars, and co-production; Zak Rizvi, on electric guitar, backing vocals, and the album’s producer. Tom Brislin, plays keyboards, and sings backing vocals, as well as lead vocals on “The Song the River Sang”. David Ragsdale, is now the violin player and he sings backing vocals. Billy Greer, plays bass and sings vocals. And Phil Ehart, plays drums, percussion, and is a co-producer.
So, let’s dive into The Absence of Presence:
The title song, “The Absence of Presence”, opens the album with bright piano keys, and then, of course, a violin. Bold, bass and lead electric guitars, supported with heavy drums. Ronnie Platt sings, “I can see reflections drifting into space. Always through a mirror, never face to face. I know you’re here, but you’re not really there”. I think Platt sounds closer to John Elafonte vocally, than Steve Walsh. He has a good voice, just not the emotions of Steve Walsh.
A washing wave of smooth synthesizers, soft drums and bass, flows over the soundscape. Mid-way through the song, there are some fantastic keys from Tom Brislin. In fact, he is amazing throughout this album on keyboards. The lead electric guitars take the stage, but Brislin’s organ play is not to be outdone. The ensuing dueling instrumentals is a wonderful opening gift to purchasers of this album. Those Shangri-La-like keys, hitting high notes is the thing that will stay with me beyond anything else. I anticipated all of the refrains of this song, for the wonderful exhilaration from those keys. Second best song on the album.
“Throwing Mountains”, opens like a rocket. There is some quite orchestration at the opening. Then, its like the whole band, in unison launches. Electric guitar, bass, drums, and organ. The violin follows behind, but swiftly takes the lead. Before another change. Ronnie Platt sings, “Too many times in the past, I tried to climb the mountain, but the inner voices laughed. Too many blocks in the road. I tried to find a new way, but there’s nowhere else to go. But now I’ve silenced the crowd. And nothing can stand in my way. Throwing mountains to the sky, and the shadows reveal a horizon. Driving oceans to the side, and my footprints will cross the divide”.
Move over, nothing is going to stand in the way of this band taking the top spot in prog for 2020. Watch the video, its very good. Captures the power of this; another of the best tracks on the album. The keyboards and violin stand out again on this track.
“Jets Overhead”, opens with a beautiful swish down the piano keys. Powerful keys, bass, drums and full force electric guitars plow the fields ahead. Ronnie Platt sings, “Jets fly overhead and I can’t hear a word you say.” This has the fuel of a Top Gun theme, just in time for the movie’s sequel; only with a Kansas sound full of violin and keys.
“Propulsion 1”, opens with deep piano, cymbals and anticipation, as the organ notes and drums build. Another powerful song off the album. Reminds me of Boston’s instrumental, “Launch”, off Third Stage, only this time, keyboards and violin play the central role, instead of heavy electric guitars.
“Memories Down the Line”, also has a wonderful new video for its release. The song is the power ballad, every Kansas album must possess. And this one, is a great one. Not “Dust in the Wind”, but as emotional. Ronnie Platt delivers the lines with such feeling. You know he, like we all, have experienced so much…and most of us a lot lately. The song opens with slow played piano.
Then, Ronnie Platt sings, “First we should call a truce. This time. Forgetting now we left behind. Sending these memories down the line. For future generations”. A wonderful song full of memories, set to organ, soft drums, bass and guitar. Ronnie Platt’s vocal showcase. The guitars bring back more Boston-like guitar playing. That regal, uplifting sound, accompanied by that guiding violin.
“Circus of Illusion”, opens full of dynamic violin, before cascading guitar and keyboards enter with drum and bass. Ronnie Platt, sings, “Before your very eyes is a trick to fool your mind. Chase the shadows of deception. With nothing up my sleeve, I compel you to believe. With the sound of my conviction”. Styx, Grand Illusion, comes to mind. But this reminds me more of the concept of “Play the Game Tonight”, off Vinyl Confessions.
“Animals on the Roof”, opens full of organ and keys. More power keyboard chords fill the soundscape, before bass, drums and electric guitar join in. Ronnie Platt, sings, “They never stop to see the world, like we do. They don’t believe the fire is coming soon. But we know the truth”. Powerful lead electric guitar solos ensue. The organ work and synthesizers are tremendous on this song. A good solid rocker, and a warning to all of us.
“Never”, opens with that Journey-like piano, from, “Faithfully”. Ronnie Platt, gives it his best Steve Perry solo, “I look back and wonder. Have I let time escape? Days pass and years slip away. It’s sad when young dreams fade?” Regret, over the passing of time, and wishing to have said and done the right things, in the past. The band gives prominent support. A deep song of regret.
This band is well known for their excellent closers. I give you, “Magnum Opus”. “The Song the River Sang”, does not disappoint either, with wonderful lead piano taking me back to “Ripples” on Trick of the Tail, at the front. Then pulsing drums, fluid bass, and violin and extraordinary keys. The guitar and drum rhythm that builds gives immediate satisfaction, as Tom Brislin sings, “I won’t deny that you and I won’t make a difference in this chapter. Your actions, make the wheel turn faster. There’s something deeper in those grains of sand that’s slipping between your fingers”.
The piano makes a triumphant return, along with excellent violin. Drums take over with assorted guitar chords and bass. Like a peak back at the wonderful ‘80s. Best song on the album. I like Brislin’s vocals. Maybe more songs with him in the lead next time? Especially if they are like this excellent blast from the past! Bells, like a Rush song and grinding guitars. Absolutely smashing!
Phil Ehart describes the concept of The Absence of Presence, as “When we’re at an airport, there’s a lot of people there, but everybody is staring at their phone or looking at their computer or their iPad or reading a paper or whatever. Someone’s sitting across from you looking up, and you can tell they’re not engaged at all. People are there, but they’re not really there. They’re present, but there’s an absence of presence.”
Well, I prefer Derrida’s examination of the two terms, absence and presence. I also link the album title, back to a passage in “Incomudro (Hymn to the Atman)”, “the spiritual life principle of the universe, especially when regarded as inherent in the real self of the individual. Everything you’ve seen is waiting patiently within. For growing old is only going back to where you’ve been”.
This album is a wonderful continuation of the legacy of this band. I am so happy they are back, making dynamic and interesting music again. Few of their peers in the music industry, from their era of the 1970s, are making engaging music. There are no stinkers on this album, and like The Prelude Implicit, I hope you enjoy it as much as I. By the way I love both album titles, and they join the many wonderful titles of Kansas’ past. Get this album. It definitely will rank high on many people’s album of the year polls. Far from ‘dust in the wind’, Kansas continues to carrying on…
Track List
- 1.The Absence of Presence – 8:22
- Throwing Mountains – 6:21
- Jets Overhead – 5:17
- Propulsion 1 – 2:17
- Memories Down the Line – 4:38
- Circus of Illusion – 5:19
- Animals on the Roof – 5:13
- Never – 4:51
- The Song the River Sang – 5:06
https://www.youtube.com/user/kansas