Kansas remains a band too unfairly ignored and disliked because of its erratic performances in the 80's. Like many others that we won't mention, Kansas didn't make only good choices during their long career, but it's still time to recognize their talent, especially through some excellent albums, of which "Point Of Know Return" belongs.
First of all, it's good to underline that it's in this album that the famous hit 'Dust In The Wind' can be found, and that every fan of music, progressive or not, has already heard it at least once. For many, the presence of this song on this opus justifies in itself the purchase of "Point Of Know Return". And yet, it is mainly the steadiness of this album that makes its strength. Starting with the title track, which is a perfect example of the style for which Kansas is renowned: the right balance between a catchy melody and originality, both harmonic and rhythmic, the constant but always right use of Robby Steinhardt's violin in addition to the rest of the band, a quality production without any additional effects, which allows the music to be captured in its rough state.
'Paradox' will transport you by this symbiosis between an almost "commercial" vocal line and discreet experiments in the background, you will need many listenings before taming 'The Spider' and the whole album will give you the impression to have lived a concentration of the numerous musical tendencies of the end of the 70's, halfway between the pure progressive rock and the hard as it was before the arrival of the famous "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal".
Much more accessible than jewels such as "Song For America" and "Leftoverture", "Point Of Know Return" is nevertheless one of the many gems of Kansas' discography. Nothing in this album is useless and it is a perfect example of a balance between directly assimilable compositions and less obvious findings.