[Review] Argos – Halfway Between Heaven and Mirth

The German band Argos, formed in 2005, offers a blend of Symphonic Prog and Canterbury exploring different facets of Progressive music. The seventh album “Halfway Between Heaven and Mirth” was released on July 05, 2024 and contains eight tracks including a 20-minute epic with several guest appearances. The album opens with “Marshmallow Moon” a track with positive melodies, a dynamic and expressive vocal and a sound steeped in Canterbury and Progressive Rock. The violin inserts and the structure of the track are valuable, creating instrumental passages with a fine solo keyboard cue in the finale. The following “The Fire of Life” is another blend of modern Progressive Rock and Canterbury, where the latter is more pronounced. The vocals are in line with the English genre of the 70s masters, also finding another distinctive feature, a fine use of horns that also offer an interesting solo cue in the second half. A good track that brings back the atmosphere of the past for five minutes in a modern and personal context. “Fidgety Philip” features a frenetic rhythm section that gives a more Jazzy imprint to the sound, with continuous tempo changes. The vocal parts are intense and alternate with fine instrumental sections that offer refined interlacing of woodwinds, violin and keyboards with solo inserts that enhance all instruments, including the guitar. This is a sophisticated, sophisticated piece that enhances the instrumental parts to the greatest possible degree, a clear example of modern Canterbury. One of the album’s shortest tracks “Fontanelli’s Dream” is an intense track that shifts to more Progressive Rock sounds. The vocals are warm and expressive and tell us the story of Fontanelli’s dream, with well-rendered lyrics. A modern Symphonic Prog with a good mixture of classical sounds and the band’s touch, always fresh and modern. Returning to the mixture of Prog and Canterbury, “Make Me Smile” has an elaborate structure with a Funky rhythm and Jazzy instrumental passages that blend together. The vocal differs from previous tracks, offering a more modern vision and fitting well into the musical context of the track. The synth and guitar come in with solo phrasing in the second half of the track in an intense instrumental section. “The Other Life” is an interlude of keyboards and vocals with a baroque touch and a British sound. Here we come to the final epic suite “Daedalus Machines,” which is over 20 minutes long. An acoustic guitar arpeggio and a warm, expressive vocal open the first part, which slowly envelops the listener and evolves the theme of the song. After a brief passage with electronic, modern drumming, the band develops classic Progressive Rock textures where guitar, organ and flute intertwine and the intensity increases. Between continuous tempo changes and lyrics interpreted by an incisive vocal, the track flows containing everything a lover of these sounds would look for in a suite of this duration. The instrumental sections are developed with technique and quality, giving all the artists involved room to express their performing talents. In the middle section, the band inserts Canterbury-style cues that permeate the track throughout, blending perfectly with the band’s trademark modern Progressive. Returning to the arpeggios of the opening, the track concludes with an instrumental section enriched by orchestrations on keyboards. The last track of the album, “Marshmallow Moon (Alt. Version),” is a reinterpretation of the opener, with the instrumental parts more prominent and without distorting the concept too much. A band that confirms the good things heard previously, displaying a sound halfway between Progressive Rock and Canterbury, fresh and modern. A mature album, pleasant and full of interesting ideas from beginning to end, concluding with an epic track of over 20 minutes to the delight of fans of classic Prog. A recommended listen that enhances the composing and performing technique of the German band, offering a sound that winks at the English 70s style, brought into a modern context thanks to their personal touch.

Tracklist:

01. Marshmallow Moon (03:42)
02. The Fire of Life (05:12)
03. Fidgety Philip (04:19)
04. Fontanelli’s Dream (03:33)
05. Make Me Smile (04:28)
06. The Other Life (01:51)
07. Daedalus Machines (20:16)
08. Marshmallow Moon (alt. version) (03:45)

Lineup

Thomas Klarmann / Bass, Flute, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Lead & Backing Vocals
Robert Gozon / Lead & Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Electric Guitar
Bogáti-Bokor Ákos (Yesterdays) / Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals
Ulf Jacobs / Drums & Percussion, Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals

With:
Alexei
 / Electric & Acoustic Violins
Marek Arnold (Seven Steps To The Green Door, Cyril, Toxic Smile, Damanek, U.P.F.) / Saxophones, Mastering, Additional Mixing
Andy Tillison (The Tangent) / Keyboards

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Author: Jacopo Vigezzi

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