Argos, the notorious German prog rock band, formed in 2005, now release their seventh studio album called Halfway Between Heaven And Mirth and after a couple of spins I can honestly say that Argos "delivered" a fine neo-prog style album. Along with the core line-up of Thomas Klarmann (bass guitar, flute, vocals), Robert Gozon (vocals, guitar), Bogati-Bokor Akos (guitars, vocals) and Ulf Jacobs (drums), this album also features a couple of guest appearances, like: Andy Tillison (keyboards), Marek Arnold (saxophone) and Alexei Tolpygo (violin). The album opens with the short, dynamic Marshmallow Moon and that one is a true prog rock song with obvious Canterbury influences, follow up The Fire Of Life also is a modern blend of Canterbury and progressive rock. Fidgety Philip, again a rather short song, has a sort of jazzy feeling and that is mainly due to the rhythm section. Fontanelli's Dream - again a rather weird title - is the shortest song of the album and that one is very intense and pure prog rock indeed. Make Me Smile is again a mixture of prog and Canterbury featuring funky rhythms and jazzy instrumental parts, while The Other Life is a sort of interlude filled with keys and vocals. Finally, the listener is treated to a 100% epic suite, clocking in over twenty minutes, Daedalus Machines is a prog rock "monster" filled with guitar, flute, organ, and emotional vocals. Especially the long instrumental sections are a real treat highlighting the musical talents of this band. Check out the end of this epic, featuring a marvellous instrumental passage added with lots of bombastic orchestration; this is neo prog rock at its best. If you listen very carefully, you will also, besides Canterbury, "hear" influences from Camel, Gentle Giant, and Caravan; so, play it LOUD and enjoy. Argos has a great original sound, and their seventh studio album is an album to cherish; indeed, so highly recommended! ***+ Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
All Rights Reserved Background Magazine 2024 |