Argy – Focus On (Pokerflat) Review

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 | Album Review

Argy first came to my attention way back in 2005 just as I was getting into the whole, dare I say, “minimal” house thing. His track Love Dose was blowing up all the usual hang outs from Sonar to DC-10 and Fabric. Its slow and sexual pace and warm round bassline epitomised what was happening in the dance music scene. Fast forward a few years and the man has a whole album out.

Argy’s Focus On is a kind of artist album come mix compilation, similar to what Villalobos did with his Fabric release. He mixes his productions or remixes, old and new to produce a deep and sensual tribal soundtrack. Intricate percussion and warm basslines course through the CD as it glides effortlessly through a dark and winding journey.

Argy teams up with Jerome Sydenham of Sandcastles fame for track three, In The Mist. This track is exclusive to the mix and combines the deep, dark and tribal powers of both producers. The dark and hypnotic track slips into the eerie but familiar Love Dose. Its acid squelches and alien synths continue the subtle and tribal mood.

The darkness is lifted for a brief moment as Argy and The Mole collaborate on another exclusive for the CD. Cantstandlovegetaway is classic house reminiscent of the late 90s. Funky loops and disco-esque beats urges some ass shaking before dropping into the DJ Gregory collaboration Our Drums. The result is an old style big room tribal track and it’s good to hear this sound again. DJ Gregory’s penchant for African rhythms and percussion ooze out and form a formidable sound with Argy’s dark and hypnotic sound. Tribal is surely going to make a come back this year!

His dubby remix of Ryo Muraki’s Down The Sky takes influences from that classic prog sound of yesteryear. Its dubby synth stabs and chugging bassline injects some bright energy as the mix begins to wind up to Argy’s recent organ lead ‘1985’. The organ creates a perfect sound to round the CD off.

This mix has shown Argy’s ability of creating great house music from across the board, be it tribal, minimal or straight up classic house. This man can do it all. It’s a great mix which showcases what a talent he is. Lets hope we see more and more from him. 8.5/10

Download Argy – Focus On from Beatport

Buy the CD from Amazon

Tracklisting (* exclusive to CD):

01. Jerome Sydenham, Texu, Romantic Couch:
Ebian (Argy‘s Legendary Bonus Beats)
02. Argy: The Storm
03. Argy & Sydenham: In The Mist *
04. Argy: Love Dose
05. Argy: Malena
06. Argy & The Mole: Cantstandlovegetaway *
07. Argy & DJ Gregory: Our Drums * /
Argy & Bayoga: Under No Illusion*
08. Argy & Solomun: Anemone *
09. Ryo Murakami: Down The Sky (Argy Remix)

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