TAKE 10 - SHIT ROBOT

This just happens to coincide with the release of the Dublin-based DJ/producer's 'We Got A Love' album on DFA, the follow-up to his 'From the Cradle To the Rave' debut in 2010. The album of saucy disco, synthetic hi-NRG and Italo tech features Reggie Watts on the title track (sexed up by Paul Woolford on a dub), DFA's Nancy Whang on latest slo-mo electro-discoid single 'Do That Dance', plus hip-house hero Lidell Townsell, Luke Jenner (The Rapture), Holly Backler and Museum of Love.

Here are the records that influenced Marcus to be the Shit Robot (but great producer) that he is today...

01. Killing Joke 'Killing Joke'
“I think I’ve named this record in every interview I’ve ever done, but it was a huge deal for me — and is still one of my favourites. I got into this trying to be a rebellious punk teenager, but I fell in love with it because of the amazing use of synths alongside guitars. The opening notes of 'Requiem' are still one of my favourite things of all-time.”

02. The Clash 'Combat Rock'
“This is another record that I still like to put on every now and then. 'Straight To Hell' is an all-timer for me. Even though 'Rock the Casbah' has been seriously overplayed and a certain TV commercial has ruined 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' for me, there are still so many great songs on this record: 'Overpowered By Funk', 'Sean Flynn', 'Ghetto Defendant', so good. Plus it’s got sleeve-notes by [graf artist] Futura 2000, super cool for 1982.”

03. Pink Floyd 'Dark Side of the Moon'
“OK, so maybe not the coolest, but it was a big influence on me. Synths, synths, synths. 'On the Run' is a killer techno record. This makes me feel like I should be on the Top Gear of Dance, though!”

04. BBC Radiophonic Orchestra 'Dr Who'
“I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the start of my love of synths. I have been obsessed with this record forever. It still gives me a thrill every time I hear it (I’m talking about the original version, of course).”

05. Kraftwerk 'Tour De France'
“'Computer World' is my favourite Kraftwerk album, but I discovered them through breakdancing to this song. Anyone who has seen Breakdance the movie will remember the scene with Turbo dancing to this song with the broom. I’m so old. I’ll bet most people reading this have not even heard of that movie.”

06. Leftfield 'Not Forgotten'
“When this record came out it changed things, it was a big deal. It was the beginning of stuff being broken into genres and the start of 'progressive'. I love all the sounds on this record even if it doesn’t stand up so well today. Another one from this time was Leftfield’s remix of React 2 Rhythm’s 'Intoxication'. Both these records were huge at the time and the feeling I got when hearing them has never left me.”

07. Carl Craig/69 'Desire'
“My favourite record of all-time? Maybe. It’s up there in the top five, for sure. I love the dirty, filthy beats, the break and the killer strings. I’ve always wanted to make a track like this, but every time I make something close to it, I can’t do it, I have way too much respect for this record. There are so many great moments in it, it almost makes me weep every time I hear it. Plus, I played this at the party where I met my wife at 6am with the sun coming up, it was a very special moment.”

08. Mr Fingers 'Can You Feel It?'
“What can I say about this record, it’s one of the original great house records. Still sounds amazing today.”

09. My Bloody Valentine 'Soon (Andrew Weatherall Remix)'
“I don’t think I was ever the same after hearing this for the first time. It was perfection for me. This was what Balearic meant to me, this was the sound of the original Ibiza. There was a great compilation on Creation Records called 'Keeping The Faith (A Creation Dance Compilation)' that had this on it and a load of other really great jams from that time, and I wore that thing out.”

10. Psychotropic 'Hypnosis'
“When I think of my first times going out to a rave, I think of this song. I remember walking in and seeing the smoke and lasers, and when I heard this I nearly lost it. It has that classic ravey riff, the bleeps, the break — it’s got it all. I’ve ripped this off a couple of times now. A massive influence on me.”