Richy Ahmed & Jamie Jones More Energy / I Need It (incl. Butch, Ray Mono Remixes) [Four Thirty Two]
Richy Ahmed’s Four Thirty Two label fires back into action this Spring, with a mouthwatering collaboration between the label head honcho and Jamie Jones, who needs no introduction The release comes backed with remixes from house music stalwarts Butch and Ray Mono.
With a friendship and professional relationship that goes back years, Richy Ahmed and Jamie Jones have often paired up and sparred with each other, via ping pong-ing releases on the Hot Creations label, B2B DJ sets in Ibiza and beyond, to studio collaborations. Incredibly, these brace of tracks are the first officially released ‘fruits of their labour’ when it comes to their joint productions, and it’s most definitely worth the wait.
Entering stage left, ‘More Energy’ comes at a time when we’ve never needed it more, providing a brilliantly rattling and spirited house groove. Built around a playful organ riff that lays the foundations for this dynamic track, spoken refrains (from Richy Ahmed no less) then come as a call to arms sealing off this bright, good times club cut. Likewise, energy levels are maintained on ‘I Need It’; banging house piano chops over a diligent 909 drum pattern, laced with rousing strings and female vox, it’s the sort of track that two seasoned pros like Ahmed & Jones are so good at carving out.
Two remixes of ‘I Need It’ are offered up here. Firstly, Butch (Running Back/Hot Creations) serves up a seductive and breezy percussive version, featuring the kind of floating deepness that perfectly soundtracks sunsets and sunrises. To complete proceedings, rising UK talent Ray Mono provides a groovy and swinging minimal remix that echoes the sweet sounds he’s been delivering for labels like Ben Rau’s META imprint and Deeperfect Records.
