vinyl-only ep with tracks taken from debut album, discovery in the atomic garden - previously releasing as community corporation on argot and crisis urbana recordings. like changing the channel, changes in one’s life can suddenly bring about a new perspective. after moving from detroit to seattle, producer taylor hawkins suddenly found himself on flora fm. previously recording as community corporation, this fresh beginning in emerald city brought new sounds into hawkins’ repertoire. where he was once surrounded by cheap boogie and disco records in detroit, seattle’s used bins were full of uk imports, early 90s ambient techno records and the idm that followed. these new influences injected judicious breakbeats and top notch electro sensibilities into his already adventurous midwest techno aesthetic. it’s as if his music has come alive, each song a new sound world abuzz with fluttering synths, nimble percussion, and soaring melodies. recorded as single live takes using an mpc to control his drum machines and synthesizers, the flora fm music flowed quickly from hawkins and needed only gentle edits. the eight tracks on his digital debut album, discovery in the atomic garden, document his experience finding his way in seattle and in life, all through the lens of a fantastic and somehow futuristic musical viewpoint. the vinyl-only ep atomic garden includes four of the album’s most danceable tracks, all wrapped in gorgeous artwork by patrick savile

to celebrate argot s fifth year of releases, we re launching a series of compilations boldly entitled american dance music. argot s first ever various artists compilation continues its mission of showcasing homegrown talents, assembling a cast of familiar faces and welcome compatriots for the inaugural edition. american dance music vol. 1 features the long anticipated return of the black madonna, who debuts her new collaborative project with rupert murray, throwing shapes. you ll recognize argot stalwarts savile, olin, todd osborn, maxine & cleo, and hippie priest on the tracklist. we ve also invited friends noncompliant and alex falk to the fold. with future volumes we aspire to look even further afield and cast the spotlight on many diverse talents who make up american dance music. much of american dance music vol 1. is aimed squarely at the dance floor, whether it s todd osborn s smooth and playful romp, 80s are here (part 2), or noncompliant s acid tweaked ode to girls everywhere, femslash. throwing shapes comes bursting from the gates with the raving stomp of heatstroke, channeling midwest raves as much as the thomas bangalter tunes inspired by them. savile offers the growling stepper, reality is a sound (share power mix), while alex falks vines provides an effervescent vocal moment. olin and maxine & cleo double down on hypnotic motifs: the former s 2d rhythm whips snare riffs off the walls of a late night jam, the latters imagine yrself catches dancers in a lockstep house groove with stimulating vocals as its key. the compilation concludes on hippie priests dream machine, whose melancholic melodies and cinematic scale twiddle heartstrings with a deft hand.

tape / cassette incl dl code, ltd to 100!
hippie priest returns to argot to release his second album, see it through. having made great strides at dialing in his production and strengthening his songwriting since the release of gaia variants in 2016, the young champaign-based producer focuses his sophomore longplayer around a narrative approach. see it through is a day in the life of a lioness, says hippie priest, beginning with the soft ambience of waking up in the morning, leading up to an intense hunt in the middle, and into evening revelry and eventual slumber. the albums 11 tracks cover a large stretch of sonic ground to tell this story. its glowing opener, umbrella keeper gives way to widescreen stompers thorn and quicksand that clear the way for more contemplative moments like crystal or cherry blossom. one cant help but imagine a dramatic hunt while listening to are you okay? or carnivorous displays on desire. even tender scenes are possible with closers tanuki and tired lioness, gorgeous movements in which hippie priests melodic profficiencies shine brightest. second album from the up-and-coming young producer from central illinois.

it is our distinct honor and pleasure to welcome todd osborn to the argot family with his stunning new single, elastic 68. this double a sider came together over the last three years thanks to regular communication between the michigan-based savant and label founder steve mizek. its two tracks exemplify argot’s musical direction and check a major item off the label’s bucket list of releasing a record by todd. with nearly mythical finesse, the title track finds osborn presides over a marriage of sassy, gleaming motifs and invigorating acid lines. its assertive bass line grabs dancers by the scruff before the unleashing a torrent of churning acid riffs that could stir even the most jaded chin-scratcher. “authorized dealer” is tougher and even more acid-forward, stomping and squelching as it drags the dancefloor into the dungeon for beating it won’t soon forget. supported by kornel kovacs, midland, xxxy - releases on running back, ghostly/spectral sound, 7777

o2 returns to argot just behind the release of her 3rd album. pointed at dancefloors while simultaneously speaking to her songwriting capabilities, w/the a being smooth & spacey, & the b at first pensive, before flowering into a floor filler.

chicago producer savile returns to his home base, argot, for his second release of 2016 -- share power. here, savile skirts the bleeding edge of american dance music, proving without a doubt that he s mastered his own minimal sound. lean, hypnotic, and syncopated. share power is an ode to collaboration, kindness, and making space, distilled through his vision for midwestern house and techno.
share power is dedicated to two parties savile played in ohio during 2015 -- in training in cleveland and midwest fresh in columbus. on -three hours in the meat sink,- savile wrests maximum impact from the barest elements — a sparse, moaning bassline is the track s backbone, upon which rippling synth, hypnotic hi-hats, and a carefully placed call to arms roll out in stride.
flip the record over for -effort won t betray you,- where explosive chord stabs fill a sharp, syncopated skeleton of percussion — that s all there is, and that s all there needs to be.

argot excavates an unexplored corner of chicago house history. lab work 91-96 collects the work of chris ike and john kardaras, two chicago producers with few records to their names but a wealth of compelling unreleased material waiting in their archives. the compilation highlights the pair’s particular vision and musical breadth across 14 tracks, drawn from a cd-r given to steve mizek in 2010 that was recently rediscovered. lab work was remastered in it’s entirety by dietrich schoenemann, sounding much at home today yet intimately connected to a formative time in chicago house history.

following releases on ndatl & 2mr, the man of the moment delivers 2 originals & a drum track that are dance music lifted by curiosity and refined by gut instinct.

amir alexander makes his triumphant return to argot with an exceptional and enigmatic new record, the butterfly. since providing the label’s inaugural release in 2012 with his gutter flex ep, alexander’s music has graced the catalogues of respected labels like secretsundaze, finale sessions, and hype_ltd, and expanded his vanguard sounds and anunnaki cartel imprints. the butterfly finds alexander picking up the conversation where gutter flex left off, but now he s speaking it in a new language.

policy returns to argot with a mature and joyful record entitled the disconekt ep. this time around the new york-based producer integrates an array of organic sounds into his refined palette, adding further depth to meticulously written tunes. plucked guitars pop out of the cinematic * we are connected* rotund floor tom beats set the pace for charmingly interwoven melodies on * moleskine* and closer * his meaningful breath* is flügel-esque in its zig-zagging synth leads and deliberate pace. the records varied, confident nature makes it a pleasure to enjoy at home and then pop in your bag for that nights dj gig

long await repress 2016 ...chicago-based producers most fully realized work to date, weaving live orchestration & irresistible synth lines through tough percussive frames. a great leap forward from the sample-clad disco house of her previous records.

philadelphia-based producer maxine & cleo joins the argot fold with his mad blanc ep. the follow up to his “pendergast ep” for material image sprung from a few weeks of feverish production during the spring of 2014 and represents the duality of the kansas native’s sound. side a is full of gifts for djs in the form of “flynn rhythm”’s relentlessly jacking house grooves and the blurry-eyed deep house pleasures of the title track. flipping the record reveals the more fragile side of maxine & cleo, courting home listeners and after hours crowds on the spirit-conjuring spectral house cut “mind is spinnin” and the dreamy “proto”, gliding on thrumming pads and gilded with vocal slivers.

enigmatic producer makes his argot debut following 4 scene-stealing, acid-fed eps via hard wax. focusing on meticulous percussion work with judicious use of delay & reverb, it manages to be his most dj-friendly record to date.

argot is excited to welcome john barera & will martin to the label with their spectacular ep, 1.2,3 (feels right). still aglow after the warm reception to their dolly-released debut album, *grace*, the boston/nyc duo deliver a versatile record whose four house cuts burn no matter where you put the needle down. john and will flex their skills on anthemic hardware jams like the title track and *high tide*, the rhythmic whirlwind of *spin cycle*, and sublime deep house groove, *the bog*.

feel the drum beat of uneasy change in the eager hand drums, bass throbs, and stalking synth stabs turning up the tension like rents in a hip neighborhood. terrence parker goes more optimistic turn on the remix. hand stamped vinyl only rsd.

olin returns to argot with fellow smart bar resident savile in tow. vinyl only original mix + dubbed out floor-filler & suffocating bass, massive kicks, and relentless drum programming, on the remixes.

argot releases this deluxe, 4 tracker, from the detroit producer, for the benefit of all clublands residents. it provides djs and home listeners a diverse selection of musical amenities.

brooklyn-based producer & 1/2 of the mister saturday night duo offers a saber-toothed, bass-heavy take on techno with an unexpected tender side. flip for a trance-like stomper sporting stirring strings.

it is the first single he has released on a label besides 100% silk, the home of his two full-lengths and three eps. this shift is embodied in the tracks, too, as octo octa sharpens his effervescent sound to a harder, more floor-focused edge.

argot starts out 2014 with the help of pittsburghs chase smith and his new single, stay. following releases for w.t. records and pittsburgh tracks, the up-and-coming producer hits new songwriting heights with *stay*, an impassioned modern disco tune featuring lauren ojanpas smouldering vocals and a live bass line courtesy of karl ojanpa. smith also provides the swift charge of *27 summers*, a rave-influenced house jam whose banged out piano chords and brass fanfare will stir the dance floor.

nyc denizen arrives fresh off a stunning, singular album for l.i.e.s to deliver 3 tracks showcasing his swift growth as a producer. widescreen techno, stern, cracking percussion & feel good house all figure in.

argots fifth release calls upon elizabeth merrick-jefferson, an enigmatic lady lurking in the shadows of detroit, to reveal her three track debut record. on urban off road, her muscular take on techno dashes across dancefloors bearing a distinct twinge of vulnerability, courtesy of the gorgeous bell melodies nestled between heartburning bass lines, brisk piano chords, and precisely arranged cascades of vintage percussion.

following the release of *everything hits*, his debut album for rush hour recordings, this eps three tracks are among the most unique and charming expressions of policys already eccentric aesthetic. let the title track prowl through soundsystems, stabbed with cavernous horns and dogged by the most infectious woodblock in recent memory. employ the ebullient *walk up* to add some fizz with dizzy organ riffs and jaunty brass notes. or perhaps conjure a reflective mood with the tensely plucked bass lines, bittersweet melodies, and live percussion of *thick nostalgia*.

if you thought pittsburgh track authoritys production prowess stopped with techno and house, you were wrong. here the trio dives into luminous, pulse quickening 2-step on the title track and booty bumping, aquamarine electro.

argots second release is the finally single by chicago-based producer olin discovery, wazi wazi, forem. splashed with exultant synth stabs and nudged along by a persistent bass line and hooked vocals, the title track is well placed to kick a party into next gear. b-side tomorrows news is unabashedly playful, creating a space where dotted melodies chase after each other and dancers rush the booth to figure out whats playing

limited repress 2019 !!the queen of the scene brings 2 tracks of gorgeous, emotional, disco-inspired deep house in the vein of her sought-after 2013 argot release. already getting played by derrick carter, mike servito, and more.

argot records was born in 2006 in riccione (italy) from the stable relationship and friendship of the two musicians and djs pepe and giaga. they created it to make their music more freely, without impositions, with an own identity, fascinated on every kind of test.

this is something in between underground & commercial in a good way... patricio cabezas is an experienced musician and producer, born in chile but lives and works in sweden. after years as a touring bass player, he dedicated himself to start programming synthesizers and producing electronic music. in his music, cabezas embraces the grey zones and in-between-ness that formed him since childhood. he approaches music the same way, discovering and experimenting, almost hybridize genres and moves between live and programmed performances. in 2015 the tom ep was released under his alias this other space on tasteful nudes/argot. cabezas is also working in collaboration with dagfest (paper recordings, bearded man, melodica) and 95kbps (krater).

bangers and ash is back. the rough & ready series of records that spawned the wider styles upon styles imprint has always challenged artists (clay wilson, certain creatures, best available technology to name a few) to work their sonics for both the club (bangers) and the clouds (ash), now welcoming contakt to the family in 2018. a native of michigan and a long-time resident of brooklyn, contakt cofounded the boundary-pushing club night turrbotaxr with previous releases on argot, icee hot and second shift and detritus feature on the ash side with a spacious wash of atmospheric analog synth constructs, while shut off notice and ndo are bangers that divebomb deep into classic detroit techno. each record has been screen-printed, stamped and stickered by contakt and sus, with mixing by phil moffa and mastering by josh bonati.

seriously dope 4 track disco edits ep. first up is jaz. the south carolina native is at the top of the disco edits game, with records out on universal cave, rotating souls, and passport to paradise. “the endť” is a 90bpm monster. easily suited for lovers of balearic, one of those rare slow tracks that can really rock a dance floor. the patchouli brothers are up and comers from toronto, with a 12” on basic fingers, “cheat, lie, kill, dieť” is a mid tempo stomper. a versatile track easily blended with disco or house, and a hook so catchy, crowds are singing along before the end of the track. will martin opens up the b-side with pure fire. “rock me again” is the transformation of a 2 minute james brown production into 7 and a half minutes of dance floor ecstasy. martin is known for lo-fi house, with releases on 2mr, dolly, argot, and supply records. studebaker hawk closes us out with the b-boy jam, “say africa”. breaks for days, and even a heavy guitar solo. this track is for lovers of deep disco, classic hip hop, and afrobeat. limited run so don t sleep on this one!

after a 2 year + hiatus apartment records returns with its tenth release and itÆs first with american dance music producer, chase smith (previously of wt records / r zone / argot). typical of the labelÆs varied approach to styles, across its four tracks ôsending you some lungsö touches on everything from bruising, muscular techno, growling acid house, synth pop, rave and classic, early detroit techno. chaseÆs high end production techniques bring his diverse influences together in seemingly effortless fashion with all music aimed squarely at a heaving, sweaty dance floor.

it’s not very widely known but, when he’s not digging for other people’s music to play out at the party, mister harkin spends a good deal of his time in the studio making some of his own. up to now, those efforts have made their way onto records for the always on point argot imprint in chicago and nyc’s own throne of blood. and although he’s djed at almost 250 mister saturday night & sunday parties since we got going in 2009, this is his debut release on the label. it’s made up of three spaciously sculpted club scorchers, ripe and ready for the power hour, and we’re super stoked to finally be able to share them with you.

love notes (from brooklyn) serves up another winner, this time with the sonic stylings of the illustious (and also brooklyn based) octo octa, whose not unimpressive discography already includes releases on such heavyweight labels such as running back, argot, and deepblak. from the opening, echoed chords and unique percussive qualities of eyes low, through the spaced out funk of touch formation, to the early morning vibes of i feel, this ep delivers on all levels. this is the 9th release on this fine american imprint and they show no signs of slowing down their sonic agenda.

after a clutch of killers for labels like dolly, supply & argot, john barera & will martin team up once again to smash out four powerful dancefloor heaters for nyc s esteemed basement floor.

guess whose back on skylax ? the great & ultra prolific brooklyn based producer octo octa ! you know him from his releases on 100% silk, on gerd janson’s running back label, deepblak, argot, love notes & of course on our beloved stay undergroun it pays sub-label, that was his first introduction to the skyalx fans & world. the man from nyc serves up 3 slices of that u.s. experimental house sound we love so much. this ep delivers an amazing quality close to perfection for us on all levels. all in all, another killer release that feels straight at home in the skylax records impressive catalogue.

informed by years spent building electronics and collecting records in chicago and honing crowd control skills in the foggy clubs of london, c powers output approaches multiple rhythmic configurations via the intent of generating human response expressed in dance. c powers is currently residing back in his home state of georgia and is holding resident dj posts at atlanta s hunger club night and his own cape fear in savannah ga. c is also the resident dj for savannah s own house of gunt performance group who through cross sensory stimulation experiences involving gender blasting action and choreography. chris s recent output includes 12 s on proper trax, cgi, niche-n-bump, as well as producing tracks for 18+ (houndstooth/fabric). all right is a sample-based late night banger with remixes from house music heavyweights parris mitchell (dance mania), kai alce (ndatl), and john barerra & will martin (dolly, argot). get on up! super limited us imports

having been on something of a hiatus following the birth of his kids, milton jackson is back and in best form ever on songs without words. his most recent releases have been on uk label tsuba and is responsible for remixes for recloose on planet e, al kent, and m a n i k. kito jempere debuted on freerange in 2013 but quickly got soon after got snapped up for ep s on dirt crew, let s play house and most recently room with a view. he also owns and manegs the fata morgana label from his base in saint petersburg. pittsburgh track authority are the genre bending trio releasing some of the finest house and techno from the east coast of the us on their own label in the machine age as well as esteemed imprints such as azuri, argot and finale sessions. kuniyuki is something of a japanese enigma, staying resolutely below the radar despite being heralded by many (including derrick may) as a major inspiration. the multi-instrumentalist has collaborated with henrik schwarz, vakula, dj nature and jimpster and has released on mule and sound of speed and remixed dj sprinkles, joe clausell and ananda project.

nyc producer/dj follows releases for rush hour, 100% silk, and argot w/ gorgeous, idiosyncratic deep house cuts encorporating live instrumentation and catchy melodies that work equally well on a dancefloor or in headphones.

** repress 2016 ** two of the black madonnas most sought after early tracks return to circulation alongside one burning new jam on goodbye to all this, the latest release from stripped & chewed. drawn from the chicago labels 2012 compilation livin for the city ep, the piano dappled joy of *exodus* luxuriates across side a, spreading the good word with a pounding beat. *we dont need no music (thank you, rahaan)* from scrs004 takes another whirl around the dancefloor, its pinwheeling horns and infectious vocals pulling even wallflowers into the fray. and in case two remastered sure-shots arent enough, the brand new *who do you need* closes the record with a soulful thwack: half uplifting house, half blistering techno – all peak-time fodder. a fine addition to the black madonnas discography alongside records for argot, the nite owl diner, hometaping is killing music, and of course stripped & chewed.

pittsburgh track authority have been making waves the last couple of years following brilliant releases on some of the best underground house labels around such as uzuri, argot, finale sessions as well as their own pittsburgh tracks imprint. last year saw their debut lp enter the machine age gain them further fans and we invited them to remix nils penners i can be for which they delivered an absolute beast. the pittsburgh based collective are as comfortable making disco-influenced grooves as they are funk infused techno so when they offered us your situation with a view to doing an ep we jumped at the chance.

nite owl co-founder alex burkat, rising young chicago producers olin (argot, smartbar, discovery) & savile (argot, smartbar, plus a couple of new faces deliver deep house delites for those lovers of greasy late-nite fare.

in a little over a year gunnar haslam has established himself amongst the new school house and techno greats thanks to his inventive releases on l.i.e.s., argot and mister saturday night.

*how you say* is the new single from factory floor. this is the second of three 12 inch singles and contains part of a wide and wonderful selection of remixes. this second 12 inch contains new versions from gunnar haslam, who released a striking debut album last year on l.i.e.s., as well as a lean percussive house 12 inch single on chicagos argot records. the 12 inch also contains a remix from helena hauff (werk/pan), who made a distinctive mark in the dance community with a brilliant debut 12 inch on werk as well as single on pan under the alias black sites.

the cronenberg referencing crimes of the future label from messrs. fairplay and fraser gathers further pace on their second release, looking across the atlantic and focussing on the enigmatic works of elizabeth merrick jefferson. from her detroit base, jefferson has one previous release to call on in the shape of the urban off road 12 inch for the argot label. the promise demonstrated there is explored further within the context of this four track quetzalcoatl 12 inch for cotf, expounding colourful take on detroit house filled with rich star gazing qualities that would attract the attention of timothy and scott.

manhattan filmmaker-turned-beatbroker francis hsueh aka policy has been unfolding a skewed yet chic house blueprint across the last three years, as evinced via a series of eps for eminent dancefloor wholesalers such as rush hour and argot – yet his latest seems his most assured and distilled to date. postscript plays street dice with choppy electronics and disrobed rhythm architectures, maxed out but close to the chest, splashed with off-grid percussive patterns and muted jazz textures.
limited edition of 450 copies.

spencer parkers work them records reflects his uncluttered attitude to electronic music. regular vinyl shopping to unearth and delight in non-digital gems, energetic tracks from the deepest house to the most ardent techno, all focussed on one thing: the dancefloor. for its fifth release, he has captured one of his current favourites to bring their wide-ranging and organic sounds to the table: pittsburgh track authority.
the trios first and brilliant ep in 2013 follows twelves on argot and uzuri, and is a neat representation of the expansive borders of parkers own record box, taking in the spectrum from driving, bleepy techno to nervous, shuffling bass-driven house.