The Prelude Implicit

by Kansas

Overview

The 15th studio long-player from the progressive rock/AOR legends -- and first collection of new material in 16 years -- The Prelude Implicit is the first Kansas album to feature new vocalist and keyboardist Ronnie Platt, who replaced founder Steve Walsh after the former announced his retirement in 2014. The 12-track set also marks the studio debuts of keyboard player David Manion and guitarist Zak Rizvi. That's a lot of new blood, but rest assured, The Prelude Implicit is very Kansas-y. Platt's amenable voice is custom made for melodic rock -- think Tommy Shaw-meets-Paul Rodgers -- and the presence of founding members Phil Ehart (drums) and Rich Williams (guitar), alongside longtime violin/guitar player David Ragsdale and bassist Billy Greer, helps to further ground the proceedings, resulting in something that sounds both familiar and forward thinking. Front-loaded with co-lead singles "With This Heart" and "Visibility Zero," the former a soaring, heartfelt anthem and the latter a muscular classic rock jam that invokes the band's "Carry on My Wayward Son"-era, the technically superb The Prelude Implicit -- literally -- hits all of the right notes, and should please longtime fans, despite the absence of Walsh. From the proggy, nearly nine-minute "Voyage of Eight Eighteen" to the hook-filled, festival-ready nostalgia piece "Summertime," it's clear that Kansas still has gas in the tank, and with some new parts in place, it looks like they've still got some road to cover. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2016
Label:	Inside Out Music
UPC:	0889853462827
Rank:	129657

Tracks

1. With This Heart
2. Visibility Zero
3. The Unsung Heroes
4. Rhythm in the Spirit
5. Refugee
6. The Voyage of Eight Eighteen
7. Camouflage
8. Summer
9. Crowded Isolation
10. Section 60
11. Home on the Range [Cover Version]
12. Oh Shenandoah [Cover Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kansas   Primary Artist
Phil Ehart   Drums
Ronnie Platt   Piano,Vocals
David Manion   Organ,Piano,Keyboards
David Ragsdale   Violin,Vocals
Zak Rizvi   Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Billy Greer   Bass,Vocals
Richard Williams   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Chad Singer   Engineer,Audio Engineer,Production Manager
Geoff Byrd   Composer
Phil Ehart   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Denise De La Cerda   Artwork
Derek Papp   Stage Manager,Monitor Engineer
Jeremy Vig   Guitar Technician
Ronnie Platt   Composer,Group Member
Will McPhail   Assistant Engineer
Scott Pearson   Lighting Director
Dave Green   Tour Manager,Proof Reading
Traditional   Composer
James Cobb   Assistant Engineer
John A. Lomax   Composer
David Manion   Composer,Group Member,Sound Design
David Ragsdale   Composer,Group Member
Jeff Glixman   Mixing,Mixing Producer,Mastering Producer
Mike Slamer   Composer
Zak Rizvi   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Daniel Kelly   Composer
Vlado Meller   Mastering
Jonathan Beckner   Assistant Engineer
Eric Holmquist   Drum Technician
Billy Greer   Composer,Group Member
Christine Boyd   Logo Design,Title Design
Michie Turpin   Photography
Richard Williams   Composer,Producer,Group Member