Argovia
South American modern proggers find their voice after a decade of tumult
In 2013, Argovia were riding high. The success of their DIY debut EP, 'Lost Letters', belied the fact that Ani Guillén’s vocals were recorded in keyboardist and producer Carlos Arminio’s mum’s closet. It even earned the duo an award nomination in their native Venezuela — a country they were soon forced to flee.
“I only had a guitar and a few other things,” says vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Guillén of the political upheaval that triggered their relocation to Bogotá, Colombia. “I left everything else behind.”
Yet Argovia’s story is one of resilience. By 2017 they were a fully-fledged band, touring Colombia behind their debut album, 'Distant Present'. Then the pandemic derailed them again.
“I was struggling, emotionally,” Guillén confesses. “Every time we thought we were back on track, we had to rebuild again.”
Hope arrived in 2024, when Aisles drummer Felipe Candia aided sessions for the 'Who We Are' EP, before drummer Mauricio Sanabria and bassist Nicolás Paredes joined the fold.
“The new guys aren’t really prog fans,” Guillén reveals. “Mauricio is a working drummer, so he plays lots of Latin music. When we brought him in, he was like ‘I’m not sure I can play in 7/8!’ But he says we unlocked something in him, he’s become a better player for being in Argovia. They’ve brought a fresh perspective of groove before mathematics.”
Guillén and Arminio are a couple. But when it comes to Argovia, riffs usurp romance; they’re simply deeply-connected musicians. And while they both have a deep respect for classic prog bands – Arminio was prone to raiding his dad’s record collection from a young age – they look to Porcupine Tree, Leprous, and Haken for their greatest inspiration. In fact, Haken vocalist Ross Jennings illuminates 'Ebb & Flow' from their new album, 'Primal Repetition'.
“We’re exploring the sense that we are trapped in a cycle that keeps repeating itself,” Guillén says of 'Primal Repetition's close-to-home theme. “It’s the cycle of life, loss, healing, and starting over; it’s breaking from the cycle, or accepting that this is who we are.
'Ebb & Flow' is presented as a confrontation, which is why we decided to make it a duet. You think Ross is an external person, but they come together at the end to represent the self.”
There too are touches of South American flair across the record, with Andean instruments, including flutes and the guitar-like charango, detailing the background. Then there’s the Spanish language track, 'Alas de Sal' which translates to salt wings.
“We wanted to bring a message about our story of being immigrants and being from bi-national families,” Guillén explains. “The whole song is about feeling like you aren’t from anywhere, but trying to build your new home and identity.”
After 10 turbulent years, and with some delectable slices of modern prog to their name, Guillén hopes that 'Primal Repetition' will provide the stability and growth they’ve spent a decade chasing. Maybe, at last, 2026 is the year “we get to be the band we've always wanted to be.” They certainly deserve it.
- Phil Weller
PROG FILE
LINE-UP: Ani Guillén (vocals, guitar, percussion), Carlos Arminio (keyboards, backing vocals), Nicolás Paredes (bass), Mauricio Sanabria (drums)
SOUNDS LIKE: The emotional turmoil of Porcupine Tree with the poise of Leprous, making for a rich take on modern prog that blends complexity with probing lyrics
CURRENT RELEASE: 'Primal Repetition' released April 10 via Presagio Records
WEBSITE: https://www.argoviaband.com/ Argovia | Rock in your face