Robot84's London City Guide

It's a new year and with that comes a new Promo Volume in Robot 84’s much celebrated series, with the energies contained within a as-to-be-expected blend of sublime sunny side up house and sweeping, glittering Balearic energies….

Robot 84, helmed by producer and DJ Scott Ferguson, has become a steady source of exciting dance music that ties directly into the soul of the Mediterranean, in all its shades, tones and musical feels. The first four volumes demonstrated a wide variety of feels that provide sophisticated listening experiences, with careful attention to detail about how the tracks swing and groove. From the pulsating to the gently evolving, each record was as captivating as the last whilst adding to the overall audial environment which the project has built so expertly over the years. The blend of sounds feels as if it could last a lifetime and beyond, with never ending shifts of perspective that allow for meaningful and purposeful evolutions to take place from volume to volume. 

Off the back of his latest release we sat down with the Glasgow born Londoner to talk through a few of his favourite spots. Here’s how it went down…

‘I’m from Glasgow Scotland, but have lived most of my life down south, in London and now just outside in Hertfordshire. I first moved to London in 1991. I was very young and lived above a pub in Kings Cross with my mate. We were regulars at places like Limelight and the Boys Own parties …I fell in love with the city. I spent a few years after that in Reading and then back in Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow. I moved back down south again in 96’, and it’s been home ever since. I’ve seen many changes in the city in that time. It’s very different now from how it was in the 90s; so much growth and gentrification has changed it a lot.

In the 90s, it was mostly about going out around Zone 1, whether that was the West End, Soho and Covent Garden or the industrial and pretty raw vibes of Kings Cross and Old Street. There was other stuff dotted about like the Ministry at Elephant and Castle, but now there’s loads more and for all tastes spread far and wide. I remember Hoxton Square, Old Street and Dalston as completely different places to the polished and pricy postcodes they are now, but you could already see the changes starting to occur back then.

I never really imagined living anywhere else and I hope it’s acceptable to call myself a Londoner, although Scotland will always have my heart!

I lived in Bow for a few years, well before it was anything much, in fact, there was nothing really there, it felt like the outskirts of nowhere and I was eager to be nearer the centre. When I go back across that way, it’s unrecognisable to me now. I have mixed feelings about the evolution of such areas; communities irreversibly broken and residents displaced, which is a sad and pretty dark side to how London has evolved. In the late 90s, I moved to North London and spent almost a decade in East Finchley. I loved living in East Finchley, of all the places I’ve stayed in London, it was my favourite. In 2011, my wife and I left our London postcode and moved to Hertfordshire just a short train journey away.

It’s hard to give a complete London guide for today. Mostly because London is just bloody massive. There is so much choice, and still, to this day, there are parts of London I don’t know well at all. But that’s also the beauty of this city—there’s something for everyone! Here goes, here are some of my favourite places and go-to spots.’

Spiritland in King’s Cross is the perfect vinyl-listening venue - it’s my go-to bar for music and just does what it does so well. It’s very, very cool but without being pretentious. A true music-lovers hangout. They get some unmissable DJs playing (recently, they’ve had the likes of Jon Sa Trinxa and For Mankind/DJ Dribbler visiting from Ibiza). It’s one of those places that just feels good to spend time in. The decks and sound system are wicked, a real piece of beauty to look at! 

‍Arabica at King’s Cross for dinner. Eastern Med flavours to die for. Quite an unassuming little place, modern and quite minimal, but with some of the mightiest flavours I’ve ever tasted. It’s just at the edge of Coal Drops Yard, so slightly away from the hub, a little walk further on from Dishoom and Spiritland and well worth the effort. It’s an order-the-whole-menu sort of spot. 

Flatcap coffee Borough market. I will always love Borough Market. It's a hectic tourist centre these days but for me, it still has its charm, and if you can get down there early during the week, you can still experience it without too much of the hustle and bustle. Mikey at Flatcap does the best coffee, he’s pretty much a one-man band permanent truck in the middle of all the market action - he’s been there for a good few years. Be prepared to queue for your Latte unless you arrive early, but you won’t be sorry. It’s a great way to start a visit to the Southbank, especially during the summer. Best coffee in London for me.

Brilliant Corners, Dalston. The most amazing sound system and Japanese food it’s pretty special. Very cool, and seriously that sound system needs another mention! If you’re in the Dalston area, it’s a must.

I have a few favourite record shops that I’ve probably spent far too much time in over the years: 

A place I’ve been going to for years is Alan’s Records in East Finchley. A second-hand crate digger’s delight! When I lived in East Finchley I’d visit a lot. It’s a bit of a North London institution for record buyers, and Alan is a great guy. We’ve kept in touch and I go for a visit when I can, and always manage to find a vinyl gem or two. I’m glad to see him still going strong when so many independents have sadly closed over the years.

Phonica Records in Soho - This is where I go for anything current in electronic dance and somewhat leftfield.

‍Music & Video Exchange, Notting Hill Gate - Another one of the oldest surviving independent record shops. Superb for all genres of second-hand records. Over the years, I've spent hours in its ‘99p a Record’ basement.

Another food go-to is breakfast or lunch at Caravan Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross. Always a great feed and a lively buzz. A mix of tourists and Londoners. Go for the Chorizo and potato hash with poached eggs, and then explore Coal Drops Yard or head into the West End.

Legendary Club Night Lowlife by Bill Brewster will always be a favourite. Bill’s a legendary DJ and writer. I’m lucky enough to call him an old friend, too. Lowlife is such a cool party and has been running for more than 20 years with a (quite rightly) loyal community of fans and support. The parties occur at various great spots across the capital, most recently, Corsica Studios, Elephant & Castle. What Bill has created is truly iconic and as cool today as it was 20 years ago. They don’t run so frequently these days, but it’s a pretty special night if you get the chance to go.

Mad Cats in Shoreditch is a fairly new venue, and you might miss it if you didn’t know it was there. An unassuming place from the exterior, but once through those doors, it’s like DJ bar heaven! Fantastic food and an equally brilliant sound system. Mad Cants is also strictly vinyl, which always gets my respect. Love what they’re doing.

 Night Tales Loft, in East London, is just cooler than cool. Climb the quirky stairwell and you get to this beautifully stylish yet comfortable bar. The views across East London are worth the visit alone, but the food island music offering is what you must stay for. Jazz Wednesdays are very cool. It does get busy, book ahead and settle in for the evening. 

Lucky Cloud Sound System parties only take place 3 times per year. If you really want to go out and dance, here’s where you should go - to the Rose Lipman Building at the De Beauvoir Estate, close to Haggerston station. Inspired by David Mancuso and his approach to partying, it’s been going strong now for a number of years and with the expertise of Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy at the helm, it’s the place to be for a slice of NYC dance music history.

Faith Parties are another legendary event. I haven’t been for a while, but I went regularly in the early 2000s when they were held on the Silver Sturgeon at Embankment. Run by Boys Own legendary DJ and producer Terry Farley, alongside Stuart Patterson and Dave Jarvis. Always a top night. 

A Love From Outer Space (Alfos). Sean Johnston and the late Andrew Weatherall’s slo-mo cosmic disco night is legendary for me. I first went when it was at The Drop (now the Waiting Room) in Dalston when about 15 years ago. Weatherall has been a big influence for me since way back during my very earliest escapades into music and Djing when he was doing Shave Yer Tongue in Bracknell, I’d have travelled anywhere to listen to him. I have so much respect for Sean Johnston for continuing with Alfos since his sad passing. He’s a true master in his own right. Alfos parties happen all over these days, not just in London, at festivals and clubs internationally - as they should!

‍Buy Robot84 ‘Promo vol 5’ HERE from Juno Records