A lot of styles out there really know how to grab my attention by doing something different or just sounding interesting, but anything related to drone has long been something that I’ve always had a solid interest in. It’s only ever been in the form of metal from the likes of Canyon of the Skull or Sunn O)))) that I’ve ever found intrigue in it, but never have I seen it done before with rock. I’m sure it’s been done before but it’s never come across my radar until tonight, and Fargue has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me with drone.

It’s hard for me to really find a way to analyze this album in a way that I can throw it down for review because I tend to take from past experiences with the style and then move from there either a lot or a little. Coming into Fargue’s debut EP, I had virtually no point of reference other than this album being instrumental rock which I’ve enjoyed countless times. Here, though, the dynamic is entirely different. The whole of “Phosphène” is an eerie piece that doesn’t feel like any other rock album that I’ve heard before in the past simply because it is like any other that I’ve heard, and Fargue takes every opportunity to take advantage of that. Despite being their first effort, this EP shows loads of understanding of their sound because it never once becomes uninteresting nor did I ever feel like turning it off because I feel like it wasn’t going anywhere worthwhile. “Phosphène” stretches out its material to the perfect degree in a minimalistic way that we can only see in the realm of drone where everything becomes stretched out to lengths many others would shudder at. It’s an incredibly bold move from a potentially provocative style that definitely has a lot more to it than what we can see here, but Fargue does the concept absolute justice here. It’s chilling and mesmerizing in the best possible way, and it really brings into question just what potential they really bring forth.

This is now a style that I’m going to seek out more of because it’s absolutely something I can see myself frequenting on a semi-regular basis and it’s only because Fargue has done such a spectacular job with this EP. “Phosphène” exudes intrigue and potential on a level that not many drone acts have acquired in my experience, and I’m genuinely fascinated in hearing more.

LISTEN to “Phosphène” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Fargue on Facebook here.