UNIDENTIFIED DYING OBJECTS

When I first typed in the album title I wrote 'Unidentified Frying Objects' by accident, but thought it didn't really look right which is a shame, as that additional element of humour would have fitted in really well with an album that in many ways is quintessentially English. The band was originally conceived as a solo project by Thomas Klarmann, whose passion for progressive music was reignited on discovering the new progressive movement in the 1990s spearheaded by acts such Spock's Beard and The Flower Kings. In partnership with vocalist and keyboards player Robert Gozon, Superdrama was formed, with drummer Ulf Jacobs offering his services after hearing the duo's work on Myspace. The new trio, now called Argos, signed to Musea in 2008, releasing their eponymous debut album the following years

Their second album 'Circles' (2010) added guitarist and producer Rico Florczak to expand their sound, followed by 'Cruel Symmetry' in 2012, and the highly-acclaimed 'A Seasonal Affair' (2015) featuring guest talents Andy Tillison and Marek Arnold. The band also began performing live, including making a much-lauded appearance at the Summer's End festival in 2014. Both Andy and Marek are back on this album as guests, along with Linus K'se (alto saxophone) and Johannes Steinbronn (trumpet). The guests bring in additional textures and styles into an album which in many ways is a quite unique blend of Canterbury scene influences and contemporary progressive rock. In some ways it is as of classic Caravan is mixing it up with 'Trespass'- era Genesis, but then bringing in Spock's Beard and IQ. Although I felt that their last album was somewhat disjointed and forced, this has a far easier flow to it, almost as if with their fifth studio album they have decided to relax into what they are doing, and the album is all the better for it. Modern, with a very retro twist indeed, this album is mixing together elements and styles from the prog scene decades apart, and shows just what can be achieved when it is done with care.