RAM Records has been known throughout its thirty-year history for a plethora of EP series which have introduced artists who would later go on to help define the label’s roster. This is a legacy which has continued with their Riot set of releases, now coming into its second chapter, and featuring a stacked line up of nine brand new tracks. With names including L 33, Prestige and Conrad Subs, RAM branch out once more across their influence in different sub genres for a strictly no-holds-barred release.
Spaced, grumbling bass notes mark Covert Garden’s ‘Gilanoia’, whilst Lunos & Whitey present the thumping drum-led breakdowns of Andy C set favourite ‘Get Ready’, and Melysma returns under the RAM Records banner for groove-ridden bassline of ‘One Life’. ‘Bite the Bullet’ from Parallel punches through with old-school reminiscent bites, as Conrad Subs ‘Revival’, featured heavily across Andy C’s BBC Radio 1 Residency, drops you into chaotic levels of sub bass and L 33 does what he does best on the grinding LFOs of ‘If You’. Prestige creates a foreboding set of atmospherics with ‘Truncheons & Muscles’, whilst remaining tracks ‘Machine’ from Groove Division and ‘TREi’ with ‘Now’s the Time’ provide two more parts of the EP’s artillery. Bringing together an intimidating collection of records.
The Riot EP comes into its second succession and with it, an arsenal which exemplifies the imprint’s homage to the dancefloor. One that’s spanned over three decades, and one which obviously seeks new ground as the drum & bass genre regenerates.
