Argotec

Artist Information

Biography

Argotec is an experiment in sound. A genre bending, raw collision of conscious intellectual lyricism, live instruments, melodic vocals, and glitched out beats that span the spectrum of electronic music genres.

There is no specific genre within to correctly categorize Argotec. The uniqueness of their sound encompasses the various influences of this eclectic collective. This broad range of influences includes Mike Patton, El-P, Amon Tobin, the Dillenger Escape Plan, and KRS ONE. Their sounds cascade over bouncy hills of Hip Hop, meander within foggy forests of Ambiant, float above slow streams of Trip Hop, and barrel through fire storms of Indie Rock.

Argotec's live show is a one of a kind multi-media experience. A marriage of live instruments, electronics, vivid lyricism and video stimulus from a projectionist who adds an intricate visual likeness to the subject matter of each song.


Argotec loves and lives to play, our songs are filled with emotion that carries over into a total performance package.

Argotec has opened for well known artists such as Diplo, KRS ONE, RA the Rugged Man, C-Rayz Walz, Dam-Funk, Kosha Dillz, Total Eclipse (X-ECUTIONERS/ILL INSANITY CREW) and Shinobi Ninja.

Argotec has played festivals such as Genre Clash 2009, L.I.M.F.2, Electric Farm Fest '10, Alien Acres Summer Camp'10, Close to the Edge:Music & Art Festival '10(FL), Adjust Your Eyes Music and Art Festival '11(OH), Vans Warped Tour "Bring it Back Tour" stage ('11), Happy Birthday Summer Camp 5 2011, Jam at the Grove 5 ('11), North Country Swamp Jam ('11) Indian Summer ('11).

(As well as many bar shows, Outlaw Parties and House Parties mixed inbetween.)

Instrumentation

Alex Argot - Lead Vocals
Rich Courage - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar, keyboard, Lap Top Technician
Dan McBride - Video Editor, Projectionist

Discography

On June 17th 2011 Argotec released the "GasMoneyMix".
A 17min compilation of new songs and a remix off of their new album due out late Summer/ early Fall 2011.
http://argotec.bandcamp.com

Argotecs song "Inertia" has been licensed for use by Quicksilver during thier surfing competitions throughout 2012
http://quiksilverlive.com/profrance2011/music,173,Music%20of%20the%20Quik%20Pro.en.html

Argotec dropped their d.i.y. debut album "Wherewithal" on May8th 2010 and are working diligently on their sophomore effort. Here is some press garnered in 2010:

URB.com
http://www.urb.com/2010/09/07/sonicbid-selects-argotec/

ConsequenceOfSound.com
http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/08/24/listen-argotec/

AlarmPress.com
http://alarmpress.com/21967/blog/columns/the-groove-seeker-argotecs-wherewithal/

MF Magazine
http://issuu.com/mfmagazine/docs/issue15

Skope Magazine
http://skopemag.com/2010/07/06/july-2010-sonicbids-“artists-2-watch”

Young Rebel UK
http://www.youngrebel.co.uk

2012

The Deli Magazine
http://nyc.thedelimagazine.com/8289/deli-best-nyc-2011-submissions-results-for-hip-hopworldother-sway-machinery-xenia-rubinos-death

Interview/ Live Performance
http://artonair.org/show/argotec



May 2010
Wherewithal
1.Shiner
2.Every Step
3.Boxcutter Lover
4.Seed Reacher
5.What You Now Know
6.Headaches
7.Dive Down
8.Chaotic Abuse Coupe
9.Meantime
10.Organs
11.Necklace
12.Kamikaze Trot
13.Appetite Insatiable



We are currently integrating MANY new songs into the mix.

And our second full length album, "Language of the Heart" is due to be completed by mid to late April 2012.

Links

• MySpace
• Last.fm
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Argotec's Soundcloud Page
• Argotec's Youtube
• Argotec's Facebook Fan Page
• Argotec's Bandcamp

Audio

• Inertia (formerly Dusted Wookie)
  Listen   Download
• Chip Away (demo)
  Listen   Download
• Shiner
  Listen   Download
• Everystep
  Listen   Download
• Box Cutter Lover
  Listen   Download
• Seed Reacher
  Listen   Download
• Dive Down
  Listen   Download
• Organs
  Listen   Download
• Necklace
  Listen   Download
• Kamikaze Trot
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Inertia
• Shiner
• Necklace
• Organs
• Boxcutter Lover
• Dive Down
• Everystep
• What You Now Know
• Seed Reacher

Video

"MeanTime" Snippet taped on5/08/10 "Wherewithal" Record Release Party Taped by Dr. Babylon

Photo Gallery

Press

• Argotec places 4th in Best NYC Hip Hop 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  "Anyone complaining about El-P not releasing records fast enough needs to check out Argotec and quit..."Anyone complaining about El-P not releasing records fast enough needs to check out Argotec and quit whining. Here's a post-apocalyptic rap duo that makes it their mission to cram as much information down your skull as the sonic spectrum will allow. Complete with glitchy laptops and punishing beats, Alex Argot and Rich Courage take technology, politics and culture and mainline it direct to your system. Dark and uncompromising, their debut LP Wherewithal showcases what's great about NY's hip-hop underground."

• Argotec on Warper Radio
  

  "Argotec Live Interview/performance for NYC's Warper Radio on ArtonAir.org"

• Argotec Mentioned in Italian Blog [+ Show ]
  

  " We are Yeti and we reason for instinct and vibrations the same that make us love your music. I hav..." We are Yeti and we reason for instinct and vibrations the same that make us love your music. I have introduced you (Argotec) to my public as the remedy for a healthy daily rage but not as sedative on the contrary as coadjutant!"-Picus Vento Nei Capelli-loyetiricoxian.com

• Alarm Press Reviews Argotec's "Wherewithal" [+ Show ]
  

  "Argotec’s intellectual and socially engaging component sets it apart from many of its contemporarie..."Argotec’s intellectual and socially engaging component sets it apart from many of its contemporaries. In many ways, the duo is obsessed with the current state of things, and as both artists are technologically and politically driven, the album is a labor of what they admire and despise. Add the ultramodern production that finds refuge in the disparate, and Wherewithal turns into a public-service announcement for the underground. "-Michael Nodello-Alarm Magazine

• The Deli Magazine cover Argotec [+ Show ]
  

  "The Brooklyn two-piece Argotec, consisting of rapper Alex Argot and producer/engineer Defpotec, com..."The Brooklyn two-piece Argotec, consisting of rapper Alex Argot and producer/engineer Defpotec, combines forces to generate chaotic soundscapes heralding an imminent apocalypse."

• Argotec Selected for URB.com's "Sonicbids Selects" [+ Show ]
  

  "Bass, glitch, rap, rock, IDM, techno…it’s near impossible to full describe the music made by Alex A..."Bass, glitch, rap, rock, IDM, techno…it’s near impossible to full describe the music made by Alex Argot and Rich Courage (Defpotec), aka Argotec. This New York-based duo have been getting a lot of attention lately for their studied hip-hop sound akin to El-P and Glitch Mob among others. "

• Concequence of Sound Listen Feature
  

  Argotec featured on Concequence of Sound as a Listen Feature

• French Blog writes about Argotec [+ Show ]
  

  "A little discovery hip hop pretty cool. I am not a specialist in this kind of zic but when there is..."A little discovery hip hop pretty cool. I am not a specialist in this kind of zic but when there is a mix of electronica with generally appreciate. This is the case with Argotec which explicitly refers to the slang, is the main tool of MCs in their battle..." (Roughly translated from French)

• Argotec Selected for MF Magazine's Artist feature
  

  Argotec Selected for MF Magazine's Artist feature More info to come.

• Selected for SkopeMag.com "Artists to Watch"
  

  Argotec Interview with skopemag.com

• Vents Interviews: Argotec [+ Show ]
  

  "What's the meaning behind the band's name? It has a sort of double meaning. - Alex Argot (Main Ly..."What's the meaning behind the band's name? It has a sort of double meaning.
  - Alex Argot (Main Lyricist) + Rich Courage a.k.a. Defpotec (Programmer, Engineer, Laptop Tech, Guitarist, Vocalist) = Argotec
  - It can also be likened to "The Technology of Slang" or "Slang Technology" seeing as how the word Argot is defined as: a specialized language of an underground culture."

• Argotec Interviewed By HofstraTV
  

  Argotec was interviewed on May 1, 2010 for a segment set to air on HofstraTV.

• Argotec performs at Genre Clash '09 [+ Show ]
  

  "Next up was the Hip/hop/trip-Hop- industrial/ /rock styling’s of the group known as Argotec featuri..."Next up was the Hip/hop/trip-Hop- industrial/ /rock styling’s of the group known as Argotec featuring Emcee /intelligent lyricist Alex Arogot Rich Courage of ( Defpotech and former member of Magnetic North) and Dave Case(Jet Black Heart Attack, Exploder One , also a former member of Magnetic North). This was probably the first time Dave and Rich have been on stage together since the departure of Magnetic North. The live instruments consisted of guitar bass, and vocals, everything else was operated by computer. All three band members dressed in black, which was the total opposite of the previous act. Alex Argot has a low basey voice that raises slightly during certain phrases and is cleverly used when he rhymes. He will hit you it the face with intelligent and honest lyrics that make your mind wander. Rich and Dave added screams to the first song as well as some terrific vocal harmonies. There was a brief moment during Box Cutter Lover where the power cut out in the beginning of the song, but they regrouped and went right back into it as if nothing happened. From there it was a smooth set. Argot did some harmonizing with Courage as well. I liked how sometimes Argot would change the pace of his rhyming techniques with in a song , it worked so well. There was such an intensity coming from argot that you could feel the lyrics and find your self in situations that he was describing. You could tell that his rhymes came from a very personal place .The music and , melodic harmonies coming from Courage and Case were hypnotizing .You could paint a picture or tell a story. This was very entertaining set that you did not want to end."
  
  Radio J
  Aural Fix Magaizne
  
  

Setlist

Our typical Set is 40 min- 1 hour.
10-15 songs.
No covers all originally composed and written.

We need at a gig a good sound system, we have 3 xlr's out and need electrical outlets to plug our gear in!

We have a projectionist that displays a synched visual likeness of the lyrical content of each song.

Lead vocals are effected and manipulated live via 2 KaosPad3.

Any mix of these songs depending on our audience, plus random ORIGINAL instrumental interludes.

1.Shiner
2.Every Step
3.Boxcutter Lover
4.Seed Reacher
5.What You Now Know
6.Headaches
7.Dive Down
8.Chaotic Abuse Coupe
9.Meantime
10.Organs
11.Necklace
12.Kamikaze Trot
13.Appetite Insatiable


All tracks can be heard at http://www.ReverbNation.com/Argotec and http://soundcloud.com/argotec


Most of our set consists of new songs like "Inertia" and "Chip Away" which is available to listen to in demo form. We only really play the old album if we have a set longer than 30-40 min.

A few new tracks can be heard at http://argotec.bandcamp.com

Basic Requirements

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