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When an album gets re-released, it’s often due to its “classic” status, and while that is certainly the case with Gargantuan, the album manages to do so much more then just make you reminisce. ‘Gargantuan’ sounds as fresh today as it did when it was pressed way back in 1993. Unsuspecting ears probably wouldn’t think these tunes are nearly 14 years old. Spooky’s ‘Gargantuan’ is like a snapshot of progressive house’s pivotal period; the early 90s. Charlie May and Duncan Ford – aka Spooky – first signed with Guerilla Records in January 1992, and the following year their debut album was making big waves on the progressive house scene and, consequently, gained the boys critical acclaim. And rightly so.
‘Don’t Panic’ was Spooky’s first single, and is justly positioned at number one on the album. There’s nothing like hearing the distinct whispers of all-time favourites wafting through your headphones again, giving you that nostalgic kick to the ear drums. Its distorted lyrics create a fast paced track that swings along effortlessly, setting the pace nicely for the rest of the album. Very cool. Some of Spooky’s tracks have a very Orbital feel about them, in no ways mimicking them -but from the same school of techno. Those airy synthesized chord progressions that make you feel like reaching for something (not quite lasers though). These signature 90s sounds have definitely stood the test of time, and in the electronic world it’s a hard test to pass. Female vocals are certainly the flavour of the album, featuring on quite a few tracks. ‘Little Bullet Part Two’ is an example of how Spooky can take this concept – that has become overused, bastardized, boring and cheesy – and make it classy. Looping one set of female vocals as the beat, and then layering over and over to create a complex, yet uncluttered, style of soulful house. It’s another reason why ‘Gargantuan’ stands the test of time. ‘Land of Oz’ is another corker. It’s that crest in the record where the pace gets stepped up a notch. It also has quirky vocals, very 90s synths – but it’s still a classic.
The album is pure 100% funky, progressive house. It flows beautifully and takes you back to another time and another dance-floor with every track. If you haven’t heard ‘Gargantuan’ before, I strongly urge you to get a copy, it’ll be an important addition to your collection. If you’ve heard of ‘Gargantuan’ or Spooky before, you should already have it!
