Dubeats
Chunky disco connoisseur ROBOT84 throws down a synth-led no-frills slammer, ‘Get Down 2024’, out on 22nd August.
This self-released nu-disco track doesn’t mess about. Thick-cut synthiness, squelches and glides through the whole thing, backed by thunderous drums and a cinematic breakdown capable of dismantling dancefloors.
Scott Ferguson, AKA ROBOT84, began his journey DJing in the 90s and 00s, working at Bomba Records and co-owning Defunkt Records in Glasgow. Moving over to production in the 2000s, he gained well-deserved attention with his 303-infused Frankie Goes To Hollywood ‘Pleasuredome’ rework, played by top disco DJs like Greg Wilson and Laurent Garnier.
Venturing into the sunny world of Balearic music here and there, his diverse catalogue of work has been played by big names such as DJ Harvey, Horse Meat Disco, Danny Rampling, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Gerd Janson, and Sean Johnston (ALFOS). They’ve also been featured on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 6.
Despite suffering a major ischemic stroke in 2022, Scott’s unwavering passion drives his recovery and continued success, marked by recent releases like ‘Cosmic Accident’ and ROBOT84 vs The Raff ‘Get It Right Next Time’.
True to its name, ROBOT84’s ‘Get Down 2024’ gets you moving. It’s one for the balmy summer day parties, as the proceedings drift into the night, and grooves get deeper and wonkier.
We caught up with Scott to tell us about his go to Cosmic Disco track that has most influenced his sound….
Alexander Robotnik – Love Supreme
What a track! Light years ahead of its time, and still sounds so, so good. This particular production and sound has had a big influence on me, I love how all the components come together. There’s a lot going on but it still has a smooth simplicity about it. I love everything about it – it’s Cosmic Disco perfection.
Gino Soccio – Try It Out
So funky. Soccio is such a great producer, I love all of his work and see his production as the ultimate benchmark. If i could come anywhere close to a Gino tune, I’d be well happy!
Harry Thumann – Underwater
As far as cosmic disco tunes go this one still blows my mind to this day. The production is sublime, it’s like disco from a kind of futuristic outer space. Regardless of how old this tune is, it still blows the dance floor up every time. Absolute winner!
Who’s Who – Dancin’ Machine
Such a cool groove, and a fail-safe for the dancefloor, it always works. I’ve turned to this track many times for a bit of an inspiration boost on downtempo projects. It does what it does so well.
Capricorn – I Need Love
Apparently this record was big in Chicago. In parts of it, particularly the drum programming – which would have been quite new in 1982 – you can hear what influenced the Chicago House sound. I love it, I think it has everything I love about Cosmic Disco.
Lime – On The Grid (remix)
Cosmic Disco or Hi-Energy maybe. Either way, it’s superb and has a great energy. The production reminds me of Patrick Cowley’s work in parts. It’s got that great, spacey, futuristic, disco loveliness about it!
Eddy Grant – Time Warp
More than 40 years on, this track is still outstanding. I’d love to know what planet Eddy was on when this came together! To me, it has everything, so, cosmic, and decades ahead of the game. Nobody has come close to producing a track like this, since. It’s another one I turn straight to for inspiration, and it gets the juices flowing.
Space – Carry On, Turn Me On
Lush, spacey, dreamy. Just go listen to it. And afterwards hunt out my re-edit, which is one of my very early production projects. I hope I did it justice!
Patrick Cowley – Mindwarp
I’m a massive PC fan. So much great work, his sound has had a huge impact on me and and continues to influence me to this day.
Donna Summer – I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Remix)
An obvious cosmic choice maybe, but there’s a reason why this is the massive track it is and that’s because it’s just on another level musically, its own cosmic stratosphere. The effects and energy have never been matched, not really, this is Cowley at the absolute top of his remixing game. It’s a masterpiece, and every time I hear it I appreciate its genius all over again.
– ROBOT84
Turn it up & enjoy!