Kansas - The Absence Of Precense (CD/LP)

I’ve been a fan of Kansas since the early seventies and I’ve followed the bands through their ups and downs, from the progressive and orchestral early Steve Walsh period, via the more easy accessible melodic John Elefante era, the Stere Morse-era, back to the slightly uneven second Steve Walsh period. After Steve Walsh decided to leave the band a second time, he eas replaced by singer Ronnie Platt who made his debut on the 2016 album “The Prelude Implicit”. Ronnie sounds quite a lot like bass player Billy Greer, who sounds a lot like Steve Walsh. Another new guy on the previous album was guitarist Zak Rizvi, while original members, drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Rich Williams are still in the band. Here’s also Billy Greer and David Ragsdale, who have been with the band for many years now, while Tom Brislin, on keyboards and vocals is a new face on this album. ”The Abscence Of Presence” opens up with the title track, which sounds as much classic Kansas as it possibly can. A more that eight minute long journey, going from melodic rock through orchestral passages. An excellent number. ”Throwing Mountains” kicks off with a surprisingly heavy guitar riff, to proceed into a slightly softer verse, but still sounding like Kansas in splendid shape. “Jets Overhead” continues in the same vein and I now have to say that, this far, this is the best I’ve heard from Kansas since their heydays! ”Propulsion 1” is a short instrumental piece that brings to mind the Steve Morse era of the band. A proggy, and very nice intermission. ”Memories Down The Line” takes it down to a soft piano ballad level. Even if the song may be a bit cheesy in the verse, the nice pompy mid-section takes it up a few notches and makes up for it, where also the following verse has been enhanced with a nice orchestral backdrop. In its context a really nice song. ”Circus of Illusion” starts with the classic violin solo, continues into a proggy section and a nicemeodsic verse. I have to say that this, still, is a damn fine album! ”Animals On The Roof” continues in the same vein with a nice musical rollercoaster where melodic parts go into odd rhythms and proggy solos. “Never”, again takes it down to a soft piano ballad level, but here it gradually evolves, but without being all prog rock. The album finishes with “The Song The River Sang” which opens with some pretty intricate rhythms and riffs. The verse however shows a slightly different side of the band, and it’s positive, and thene the classic Kansas moves come back in! A really nice and at times pretty intense thing that keeps the listener’s interest up. A highly surprising and abrupt ending though! Can we hope for a sequel, maybe? This is a really outstanding album with all the ingredients I could’ve wished for from a top-notch Kansas album. Despite several of the original members missing, I can’t really say I miss them when listening to the album. Sure, I wouldn’t say no to a couple of licks from Kerry Livgren, and some Steve Walsh vocals (from back in the day when his voice was in top shape), or maybe a violin solo from Robbie Steinhardt, but no, I can’t say I really miss it when listening to the album. The new members, and the old ones of course, do an outstanding work and the album sounds just like a kick ass Kansas album should sound. What more could I wish for?   

Janne Stark

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Label: InsideOut

Shaggy – Scarecrow (LP/CDr)

Classic Swedish hard rockers Shaggy released an outstanding album already back in 1975 and then fell off the earth, to return in 2012 with the equally outstanding album “Destination Nowhere”. This album was then followed by Fighting Angels And Demons”, which was actually a double album, divided into two releases. The first one was stellar, so now that part 2, entitled “Scarecrow”, has been released, my expectations are quite high. The album kicks off with the highly hit-oriented “Hero”. We’re not talking buttery, wimpy pop-hit, but more the type of hits delivered by bands like Uriah Heep and Deep Purple, hits with dignity and backbone. Next up is “Boogie Man”, which continues in the same vein and it’s not often I get to label a track “progressive boogie”, but that’s just what this is! Great Hammond playing from original member Tom Ryan and fat guitars from his original colleague Fidde Rognås and his son Hannes. ”Gorgeous Children” continues in the vein of classic Uriah Heep with a nice proggy touch, but without getting complicated. Singer Ulrich Carlsson from M.ILL.ION has sung with the band since the reunion and his vocals fit the band perfectly. The remaining two newcomers (since the reunion, that is) are bass player Robert Ottosson and drummer Stafan Husar who both perform their musical duties to perfection. Shaggy truly feels like a tightly knit unity. To return to the album – “Laughing Boy Crying” has a cool, almost folkish touch and made me think of Irish rockers Horslips, which is great in my book. The title track continues in the same folk-influenced vein, while next track “Mystery Man” is in a slightly softer vein. I really like the variety. ”Thunder And Lightning”takes us back to the fields of classic Uriah Heep, but with guitar harmonies which is something you never hear with Heep (since Mick Box is the bands only guitarist, so no wonder). I do however have to say I think this is even better than the stuff Uriah Heep have produced lately, and I really love Heep!! The CDr version (only released in 100 copies) has two bonus tracks, starting with “Rainbow’s End Pt 1” (it’s actually also featured on the vinyl as a bonus track). Stylewise if fits well with the rest of the material. A quite melodik straight ahead number. The final bonus track, “Hello Goodbye” (on the CDr only) is a more mainstream, slightly poppy thing, ironically with a touch of Cheap Trick and The Beatles. All in all a really great record from a band that has never disappointed me. Highly recommended! The CDr and LP are only released in 100 hand-numbered copies! Get it while you can!

Janne Stark

Year: 2020

Label: Self-released

Country: Sweden

Sapphire Eyes - Magic Moments (CD)

Sapphire Eyes, based in the south of Sweden, now release their third album. The idea of this project started already after keyboard player Niclas Olsson had put his old band Alyson Avenue on the shelf, and 2011 it became a reality. The year after, the debut album saw the light of day. In 2018 the follow up “Breath of Ages” saw the light of day and now it’s third time lucky. Niclas is again flanked by Leverage singer Kimmo Blom, guitarists Patrik Svärd (Cloudscape, Alyson Avenue) and Emil Knabe (Acacia), basist Christer Engholm (Alyson Avenue, Acacia) and drummer Fredrik Eriksson (Alyson Avenue, Dawn Of Oblivion. Former Alyson Avenue (and Nightwish) singer Anette Olzon also guests on the album. Sapphire Eyes holds a firm position in the classic AOR lane. Easily accessible choruses, nice harmonies, outstanding musicians, a world class singer and great production. Not much to complain about for any AOR fan. “Don’t Walk Away” made me think about the colleagues in Bad Habit, and I’d say they could be used as a pretty good reference for most part of the album. No wonder Swedish AOR has a great reputation all over the world!

Janne Stark

Country: Sweden

Year: 2020

Label: Pride & Joy