Album review: KANSAS – The Absence of Presence

KANSAS- The Absence of Presence

Inside Out Records [Release Date 17.07.20]

Kansas are an object lesson in regeneration and renewal for veteran bands. Having been around since 1974, many feared for their future when lead singer Steve Walsh retired in 2014, but continuing with a new singer in Ronnie Platt, 2016’s The Prelude Implicit was warmly received and still had a trademark Kansas sound.

However this follow up makes an altogether  bolder statement. Especially in the first half of the album it is a reminder that over their first few albums, Kansas were one of the leading bands carving out a distinctively American take on the UK-dominated world of progressive rock, before gradually honing a more AOR-friendly sound.

While two original members remain in drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Richard Williams, they have nevertheless been revitalised by two younger musicians who are the main writers and whose appreciation of the signature Kansas sound shines through: guitarist Zak Rizvi who came onboard for the last album, and new keyboard player Tom Brislin.

The ambitious title track seems to break the rulebook for a traditional album opener- it weighs in at nearly eight and a half minutes, starting with over a minute of trademark violin and keyboard passages before the vocals kick in. It is sedate in pace and the vocals have a dreamy ethereality until a mid-song leads into an instrumental jam between organ and guitar, accompanied by a switching changing of time signatures.

‘Throwing Mountains’ is built on a bigger, tougher riff of the type generally absent from the previous album and is another multi faceted epic with vocal harmonies and great instrumental interplay, particularly as the song works to a clever climax particularly well. My only gripe would be that the chorus lacks a strong hook.

‘Jets Overhead’  has more lively interplay but after the instrumental ‘Propulsion 1’ the focus shifts to some shorter songs with the piano-led ballad ‘Memories Down The Line’ having echoes of ‘Dust In The Wind’, notably in David Ragsdale’s violin solo.

Though more exemplary musicianship in ‘Circus Of Illusion’ is slightly let down by a weak chorus hook, ‘Animals On The Roof’ has more accessible melodies, combined by a duel between prominent violin and some very Keith Emerson-like organ work.

Ronnie Platt is far from a Steve Walsh clone, but his crystal clear, pleasant voice fits in with the sound perfectly. He particularly shines on  ‘Never’, a beautifully laid back tune where the progressive tendencies are reined in while an old Kansas tradition of multiple singers is continued as Tom makes his vocal debut on the choppy rhythms of album closer ‘Song The River Sang’, spoiled only by a peculiar, directionless outro.

Not everything comes off, and some of the chorus melodies could be stronger, but all in all this is a bold and remarkably fresh statement of intent from a band refusing to coast on their laurels.   **** 1/4

Review by Andy Nathan


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply