A SEASONAL AFFAIR

While I loved the eclectic retro prog-pop of Argos' 2010 album, Circles, with this release the band seems to have committed even more footing to the sounds and stylings of the 1980s. There are a lot of pleasant, pleasing sounds and melodies but very little edge or discord--that is, the music and lyrics are missing the kind of angst and tension that sucks one in until there is either resolution or reprieve. All attempts at 'abrasive' sound or tension seem to miss the mark. And the blatant imitation of PETER HAMMILL are off-the-mark as well: too clean, too polished, too contrived, too computerized. Too bad! Such talent! Such a voice! But alas! Thomas Kalrmann is no Peter Hammill.

3.5 stars rated down for disappoint and lack of engaging tunes.

German band Argos have delivered four albums since forming out of a solo project begun by multi- instrumentalist Thomas Klarmann in 2008, and their latest `A Seasonal Affair' is a standout release in 2015. They present a mix of symphonic prog, 80's Neo Prog, New Wave elements, folk, jazz and even dark theatrical drama. Despite the Neo Prog tag, this is hardly some slavish recreation of the likes of Marillion, Genesis, I.Q, with many contemporary and modern elements worked in, and a strong emphasis is placed on Robert Gozon's distinctive voice, which occasionally calls to mind not only Peter Hammill and Fish, but the second Arena vocalist Paul Wrightson who featured on their `Pride' and `The Visitor' in a few moments as well.

`Vanishing' makes for a mysterious opener, with Gozon's raspy croon, gothic piano trickles and a mix of twitchy programmed and Ulf jacob's skittering live drumming. A definite 80's poppier Neo Prog flavour permeates `Divergence' with its boisterous chorus chant that wouldn't have sounded out of place on those early Twelfth Night albums and no shortage of Moog soloing, and the `How did it come to this?' finale is lovely. `Silver and Gold' drifts into slinky grooving 80's New Wave pop with tasty scratchy Mellotron slices, the symphonic schizophrenia of `Lifeboats' channels both the vulnerability of Fish-era Marillion with an overwrought Hammill-esque wail, and the multi-part twelve minute suite `Not in This Picture' combines acoustic pastoral moods with Big Big Train-like soft harmonies and endless instrumental interplay.

The title track `A Seasonal Affair' marries sombre piano and flute with romantic Camel-like guitar/synth bursts, a gothic crooned vocal and a dreamy `A Trick of the Tail'-era Genesis outro. `Forbidden City' is a tasteful lightly jazzy instrumental, glistening with electric piano, quirky synth trills and fluid drumming with murmuring bass weaving in and out, and just a few hints of the Canterbury sound bands in Thomas Klarmann's flute. Melancholic closer `Stormland' closes the album in gloomy fashion with spectral organ drones and a grand guitar solo from Rico Florczak filled with power and genuine emotion.

But most special of all and deserving of mention all its own is the lovely ballad `Silent Corner'. A gorgeous mix of Thomas' drifting flute and restrained saxophone courtesy of United Progressive Fraternity musician Marek Arnold, delicate acoustic guitar and electric piano tiptoes, and the soothing chorus and harmonies throughout could have easily fit on Big Big Train's last few albums. It offers plenty of crossover appeal, and it easily one of the best melodic moments to appear on a prog album in 2015.

The Tangent's Andy Tillison (who actually contributes some keyboards on this disk) rates this album very highly, and it's not hard to see why it would appeal to him. Like with The Tangent, Argos places a distinctive vocalist with great character in his voice front and centre in the music, with strong melodies, a wondrous mix of keyboard variety and brief jazzy diversions all coming together. `A Seasonal Affair' is a very subtle grower, and modern Neo albums don't come much finer than this, nor offer as much variety with the style as Argos do here. It's an album that has kind of flown a little under the radar and is in need of some more praise and attention, by a highly skilled band deserving of more acknowledgement.

Four stars - If you're a Neo fan, this should be an essential purchase!

German band ARGOS can trace its history back to 2005, initially a two-man project that has grown into a trio and then a full quartet over the years that have passed since then, releasing a new album every other year or so ever since they released their self-titled debut album back in 2009. "A Seasonal Affair" is their fourth studio production, and was released through the German label Progressive Promotion Records in 2015.

For me, Argos is a band I associate with the Canterbury Scene. They may not be a purebred Canterbury band in terms of all aspects of their material, at least not in the ears of those who subscribe to the notion that this scene lasted from 1970 until 1975, but if you tend to enjoy bands exploring material inspired by that movement, then Argos is a band that merits a check. For this latest album of theirs I'd suggest that it might be an advantage to have a soft spot for the likes of Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator as well.

Argos are a German quartet, who released their debut back in 2009 and this is the fourth. They have also brought in a few guest musicians, including Andy Tillison (PO90, The Tangent and others), so that they have three different keyboard players involved, but strangely this isn't an overtly keyboard based album. What this is, is something that is looking back into the Canterbury scene, but with an Eighties twist to it, as opposed to going back into Seventies or Sixties, which can create some almost jarring counterpoints at times. 'Divergence' reminds me of Thomas Dolby every time I play it, and I'm sure that's not the intention, as the latter part of the song is nothing like the former and when Thomas Klarmann repeatedly sings line 'How did it come to this?' I found myself agreeing with him and asking myself the same question.

This isn't a bad album though, far from it, but I did find it somewhat disjointed, and it is when they let the music naturally flow in more relaxed manner that they come into their own. It is almost as if they were trying too hard, and the result is something that is forced and therefore not as easy and interesting to listen to as it could be. The use of saxophone is inspired (care of guest Marek Arnold (Toxic Smile, United Progressive Fraternity)), as the flute from Thomas, yet while there are some wonderful moments on here, there isn't enough for me to keep revisiting it.

In my opinion the fourth album from ARGOS "A Seasonal Affair" is their best work. In fact none of their previous albums "had fallen" my taste (my maximum quotation would have been 3 stars ) , I know this is a controversy, once that all of them are musically very seemed. Maybe is due which in this one the "construction" of all tracks sounds more pleasant to me . In the previous albums - in spite the same influences GENESIS , GENTLE GIANT a bit of VDGG - the audition make me little bored. The album have some very good moments as for instance track 2 "Divergence" with a "meeting" of GG with hard rock beat. Track 5 "Lifeboats" and his "bucolic" opening theme and some GENESIS "pinch" (mainly in vocals). Track 4 "Siler and Gold" another GG strongly influence and some FRIPP's guitar style ( one of these starting 0:30 sec and again at 1 min 56 sec ) . The best track in my opinion is track 6 "Not in Ths Picture" with a graceful introduction with acoustic guitar and banjo ( or something like that) some mellotron moments a bluegrass theme and great arrangements for all instruments, in sume a perfect track !!! My rate is 4 stars !!!