Kansas "The Absence of Presence" CD+5.1 Blu-Ray coming 6/26/2020

[haikubass]

Looks like I can smell an upcoming surround release from a mile away Well, all I got for you at this point is an official press release and no 5.1 mixer's name - let's hope this one turns out the way Styx's or KWS's recent blu-ray surround offerings did, fingers crossed!

“The Absence of Presence” will be released June 26, 2020, on Inside Out Music and is distributed by The Orchard. The album will be available on CD, Double LP 180 Gram Vinyl, Limited Edition Deluxe CD + 5.1 Blu-Ray Artbook, and digitally on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all other streaming services. Pre-order opportunities will start on April 17 at KansasBand.com and Amazon.com.

Also, Kansas gave fans a sneak preview of what they can expect to hear on the album with this sampler video: KANSAS - The Absence Of Presence (Trailer)

 

[GOS]

holy shit

 

[Jim the Oldbie]

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY

 

[DuncanS]

I've always liked Kansas, so this will be a must.

It made me think 'when did I first hear Kansas?', and I reckon it was at somebodies house circa late '75 early '76 on the way to see Man play at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone!

 

[J. PUPSTER]

The keyboards really jumped out front for me on that trailer, lots of room for an interesting mix!
Make it so...

 

[Jim the Oldbie]

Back in the day, one of my buddies had a big brother with a HUGE record collection, and a really nice stereo. He was pretty cool about us hanging out there, and always had new music to listen to. I still remember hearing "Journey From Mariabronn" for the first time there, jaw hanging open, thinking holy shit who the hell are these guys?!

 

[MCDave]

Kansas has always been my favorite of all time, but mostly up to and including POKR with the original lineup. Today, they sound more like Dream Theater than Kansas to me. Here's hoping that this leads to the early catalog being done in 5.1!

Interesting there are only 2 left of the original 6 members.

 

[GOS]

Kansas has always been my favorite of all time, but mostly up to and including POKR with the original lineup. Today, they sound more like Dream Theater than Kansas to me. Here's hoping that this leads to the early catalog being done in 5.1!

Interesting there are only 2 left of the original 6 members.

I saw them live in a small theater last fall, and they were stunning.

 

[edisonbaggins]

Hmmm...

 

[DuncanS]

Kansas has always been my favorite of all time, but mostly up to and including POKR with the original lineup. Today, they sound more like Dream Theater than Kansas to me. Here's hoping that this leads to the early catalog being done in 5.1!

Interesting there are only 2 left of the original 6 members.

We can hope, who knows, and if they do its a definite Yes to a purchase!

 

[MCDave]

I saw them in a sold-out Madison Square Garden in 81 (with .38 Special opening). Then I saw the modified lineup in 99 in a park in Chicago near the ferris wheel, and they were really really good. Walsh still did his trademark keyboard hand stand then. The last time I saw them was at a small outdoor venue in Denver. Not so good. Walsh could barely croak out his lines an octave lower than usual, Williams was having continual amp problems, and the band just wasn't on the same page that day.

 

[Jim the Oldbie]

So were there any quad releases of the old stuff?

 

[MCDave]

We can hope, who knows, and if they do its a definite Yes to a purchase!

The decision may be largely influenced by how successful this surround release is. The price should be reasonable so I'm a Yes to this one at least.

 

[DuncanS]

So were there any quad releases of the old stuff?

As far as I know, No.

I've got a vague memory of a Quad test pressing mentioned somewhere on QQ, but that could just be wishful thinking and/or old age!

 

[sjcorne]

So were there any quad releases of the old stuff?

No quad, but Leftoverture was slated for Multichannel SACD release almost 20 years ago.
https://www.discogs.com/Kansas-Leftoverture/release/11279024

 

[J. PUPSTER]

No quad, but Leftoverture was slated for Multichannel SACD release almost 20 years ago.
https://www.discogs.com/Kansas-Leftoverture/release/11279024

Well that would be a welcome site for sure!
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/surround-work-part-3-page-3

 

[jimfisheye]

Kansas? Will it still be the absence of any original members?

 

[edisonbaggins]

So, nothing in the example video reaches out and grabs me as well as "Radio Silence" by Styx did.
I'm reasonably interested, if the price is right.

 

[haikubass]

As far as I know, No.

I've got a vague memory of a Quad test pressing mentioned somewhere on QQ, but that could just be wishful thinking and/or old age!

Yes, there was a couple of supposed SQ copies of "Song for America" on eBay:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...are-to-guess-about-this-one-kansas-sq-lp.1730Also, there's this dedicated thread:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/kansas-in-surround.26139

 

[svengaleekie]

I have Drastic Measures, The Best Of Kansas & In The Spirit Of Things all on cassette, I liked the sample video so I will probably go for this.