JAMES JOHNSTON / RUFF STUFF / TIMMY P / MIKKI FUNK – RMR VOL.2 (RM RECORDS)

RM Records is a label on the rise and is making a big impact already. Now they serve up what is only their third release, but in doing so clock up what are sure to be four more modern club anthems. Contemporary stars James Johnston, Ruff Stuff, Timmy P from Belfast and Mikki Funk all come up with the slamming house goods.

James Johnston has been around a while so knows how to make a big mark with his house jams, but none come bigger than this. His Get House Now is all rave stabs, solid kicks and classic vocal stabs and samples. It’s a real sweat fest and Ruff Stuff keeps up the toughness with Double Mirror, which is massive kick drums banging away beneath crisp hi hats and rolling pianos.

Timmy P then gets a little more refined and smooth with his deep and lush Filthy Animal, again bringing rave stabs to the fore and layering them in vocal cries and bouncing beats. There is soul in them there sounds from the Extended Play dude and finally Mikki Funk cooks up the low swinging, menacing and inviting Swhung. It is a jacking, garage styled cut that rounds out a massively impactful EP.

Reviewed by Ian Fleming