Mighty Mouse love a bit of cheese, but not too much - just enough to bring a smile to the faces of those that listen to their often superbly compiled Disco Circus compilation series or those that check out their original, disco loving productions. But Mighty Mouse is teaming up alongside Matt Van Schie of Van She for side project Du Tonc, as they prepare to release their debut single 'Darkness', a blend of driving bass rhythms and crisp disco melodies and beats. Being a fine lover of all things dancefloor, Pulse asked the beat-munching rodent to pick his favourite disco cuts of all time, the ones that are essential for sampling and the tracks that he reguarly re-visits for inspiration. Over to you, Mr Mouse...
1. Cloud One - Disco Juice
What's not to like about this track, it's also sample heaven. The riff at the beginning is so uplifting, you can loop it and loop it and loop it (as I do in DJ sets). It's got a wonkey vocal and some sections in the middle where it drops down a bit. Perfect.
2. Paul Parker - Right On Target
This has got a great beat at the intro that you can lift on it's own, then various parts layer up, bass then some cool synth lines, so many sections in this track. I play the whole thing in some sets sometimes, but I chop it up loads. I love the vocal too. Camp as hell, which I love.
3. Sister Sledge - You Fooled Around
The chord change in this is infectious. You can chop this up to create a different and interesting chord progression though, and drop the vocal hooks in when you like. But you can re tune the chords which makes it a hole new track. Massive opportunity in this track.
4. Patrice Rushen - Haven't You Heard
I seem to remember a house version of this from the 90's. This needs to be sampled more, it's in the vein of Cloud One that I mentioned about in it's joyous hypnotic melody line that kicks in at the beggining. Then the chorus, well, HUGE. Great individual sections to sample too.
5. Shriekback - My Spine Is The Bassline
You've got funky ass drums to sample at the start, then a hypntoic shoulder shuffling bassline all the way through. I love this song, and there's great little hook you can grab too throughout the track.
6. Aural Exciters - Spooks In Space
We need more of this kind of music, fun bubbly disco, slightly insane vocal and song, but carried along by an infectious groove. Listen carefully and you'll spot a multitude of sections you can sample. I've sampled quite a few parts of this for a track to play in my DJ sets.
7. Gepy & Gepy - African Love Song
I put this on Disco Circus (Volume 3). It's pretty mental, which I love. But it's got an incredibly funky bassline that sits on it's own with the drums, then some excellent african drums you can steal at the intro with some cool Jungle noises. I love African disco. The song is so out there, and I love the way it's sung with such seriousness, it's silly, yet, it's not. I wish I made this, I'd retire a happy man. You wouldn't get away with a song like this now, but it's one of my favourite disco records and ripe for sampling.
8. Skyy - First Time Around
There's so many sections to sample in this it's like a DJ set in itself. I love the intro, some crazy drum fills and spaced out disco lazer zapping madness. Then this sensual vocal kicks in, seriously you could make several tracks out of this one song.
9. Shirley & Company - Shame Shame Shame
Less obvious maybe, but after a few listens you get in the groove and will notice there's some great vocal sampling action to be had. I played with this in the studio this morning, sampling re pitching with and without sections of vocals. Be interesting to know who's sampled this track, I reckon it will be more than you think.
10. Rick James - Superfreak
Well MC Hammer sampled this, it's still awesome for sampling though (great snare at the beginning too, sat on it's own waiting to be lifted). But you can cut up the bassline riff and re order to interesting effects. There's also some fantastic vocal snippets to grab in this and synth lines popping in and out.