Argentina Avenue #09: Forward Music Cements the Progressive Pulse of the River Plate
With its ninth installment, the Argentina Avenue compilation series from Forward Music solidifies its standing as the most ambitious showcase for progressive house and organic house originating from Argentina. Seventy tracks, over eight hours of music, and a roster spanning emerging voices and established scene figures combine to create something that goes beyond a mere sampler — this is a sonic document of a scene in full bloom.
The opening sequence sets a deliberate tone: Mariano Malvica kicks things off with Jetzt at 121 BPM in G Major, a meticulously layered piece that signals the compilation's introspective character. Lucas Gomez (AR) follows with Deep Breath, seven and a half minutes in C Minor that showcase a firm command of progressive harmonic tension. ORFEO (AR) delivers Everything, an eight-minute journey in A Minor where synthesis layers unfold with cinematic patience.
The Organic House subgenre surfaces as a recurring thread throughout the release: Martín Córdoba (AR) introduces warm percussive textures with Amazonia at 116 BPM in C Major; Barklas anchors the mid-section with Ecos De No Lo Visto, the set's longest track at 8:40, built on a hypnotic A Major foundation; and Edu Russo delivers Rhyma at 9:23 — the compilation's absolute centrepiece — a high-calibre organic house exercise in B Minor that rewards every second of its runtime.
The remix selection also carries significant weight. Martin Cordoba (AR) reinterprets Carlos Palacio's Amaranth with a darker sensibility in Bb Minor, while Lucas Gomez (AR) offers his own organic house reading of the same track. Agvstina reshapes Lore Iturralde's Sympátheia into an effective mid-sized venue tool, and the Byhon & German Guerrero remix of Yulian Gonzalez's Gray Sky strikes a compelling balance between melancholy and dancefloor functionality.
Bar Melodia emerges as one of the most prolific actors in this volume, appearing alongside Ivan Fernandez (AR), Marc (AR), Neferty, Ale Miguez and 3.14 (AR), reflecting a tightly-knit creative network operating within the Forward Music ecosystem.
Standout Tracks
- Rhyma – Edu Russo: 9:23 of progressive organic house in B Minor; the most ambitious statement on the entire release.
- Ecos De No Lo Visto – Barklas: 8:40 in A Major — a hypnotic journey that justifies the compilation's generous runtime on its own.
- Orbital – BORDA: 8:25 in C Major at 122 BPM, progressive house with solid architecture and precise emotional payoff.
- Amazonia – Martín Córdoba (AR): the finest organic moment on the set, blending tribal percussion over a luminous melodic bed.
- Apathy (Seba Benedetti Remix) – Quantzka: the set's highest BPM at 128, making this the most peak-time-oriented cut on the compilation.
Argentina Avenue #09 is a compilation that demands time but richly rewards attentive listening. Forward Music isn't just presenting talent here — it's contextualising, elevating and projecting it toward a global audience that Argentine progressive house has long deserved to reach.
