KANSAS – Point Of Know Return [Japan Blu-spec CD remastered +2] HQ

Few days ago we started posting KANSAS early albums as these are essential to understand how this great band and overall contemporary Rock music has evolved over its history. And how better than this Japanese reissue cardboard sleeve series pressed on high quality Blu-spec CD format, fully remastered and including bonus tracks.
Early KANSAS albums needed a proper remastering to update / clean the sound but also preserve the original harmonics and analog tapes warm nature. These Blu-spec CD are amazing, believe me.
KANSAS fifth album ”Point Of Know Return” sports one of most iconic image from the album rock era, and of course, includes the timeless hit ‘Dust In The Wind’.

”Point of Know Return” starts off with the title track, a fantastic song that invites the listener into the storyteller’s mind, sort of like that poem we all had to learn in high school, “The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner”, only the ending is less gruesome.
The magic continues with “Paradox”… there is no way you can sit still for this one. The violin attack is fierce, both Robby Steinhardt and David Ragsdale smoke seriously on this one! The lyrics continue in the adventurous vein
Next is a song I like to call “the primordial soup” of all Kansas songs. “The Spider” is an instrumental that incorporates all the basics that Kansas had created and performed up until that time. Our little Stevie done damn good with this one.

“Portrait (He Knew)” is a great song too with a rocking beat, while on “Closet Chronicles” the entire band showcases their awesome talents as individual musicians.
“Lighting’s Hand” is the hard rock song of the album. This fun, little fantasy takes you out the depression caused by “Closet Chronicles” and gives you a “Belexes”-style beat that makes you bop around your living room. Robby’s voice is exceptional, as always. Kudos to Steve for cool lyrics, too.

So now we come to the song that made Kansas a household name. There can’t possibly be a soul on the planet over the age of 30 who has not heard “Dust In the Wind”! (I bet they even know this song in Outer Mongolia!) Every mother has sung it to her babies, and many funerals conclude with it, thus it is heard at the beginning of life and at the end.
“Sparks of the Tempest” is another staple of the Kansas diet, an all-around good song with great musical elements and dark lyrics to make you ponder. “Nobody’s Home” has a pleasant rhythm to it, Robby’s violin is very cool here.

“Hopelessly Human” is an achingly beautiful song, and Kerry’s lyrics give us hope in our humanity, instead of the bleakness of a dead Earth on the previous song. It’s very inspirational and contemplative, one of his best songs ever! The music is terrific too, mixing slow and fast elements that are conducive to good Prog rock. The bells at the end are a nice, little touch.

”Point Of Know Return” is an album that has stood the test of time, remaining a favorite throughout the decades, not just of hardcore Kansas fans, but mainstream listeners as well.
This remaster on Blu-spec CD makes it sound like never before.
Classic

ＳＯＮＹ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ ＢＳＣＤ ／ ＥＩＣＰ～２００７５
「 ＣＡＲＤＢＯＡＲＤ ＳＬＥＥＶＥ ＲＥＩＳＳＵＥ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ 」

01 – Point Of Know Return
02 – Paradox
03 – The Spider
04 – Portrait (He Knew)
05 – Closet Chronicles
06 – Lightning’s Hand
07 – Dust In The Wind
08 – Sparks Of The Tempest
09 – Nobody’s Home
10 – Hopelessly Human
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Sparks Of The Tempest (Live)
12 – Portrait (He Knew) (Remix Version)

Steve Walsh – keys, vibraphone, piano, lead vocals
Kerry Livgren – guitars, synths, clavinet, additional percussion
Robby Steinhardt – violins, viola, lead vocals
Rich Williams – electric and acoustic guitars, pedals
Dave Hope – bass
Phil Ehart – drums, timpani, chimes, additional percussion

Out of print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/EICP-20075