Black Sheep Vol II Runamucker by Runamucker: A Gritty Dive into UK’s Underground House Scene
Alright, let’s get this straight—Runamucker’s Black Sheep Vol II Runamucker isn’t your polished, shiny EDM festival anthem. Nope. It’s raw, unapologetic, and dripping with that gritty UK garage house vibe that feels like you’ve stumbled into a secret rave in some abandoned warehouse. Released back in 2015 on Night Tracks, this album is one of those hidden gems that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.
First off, shoutout to the crew behind the scenes—T. Kelle for the design (slick but not overdone), S. Finlayson for mastering (crisp enough to slap, but still rough around the edges), L. McArthur for photography (moody and mysterious like the music itself), and C. Peck for producing tracks that’ll worm their way into your brain. These folks didn’t just make an album—they built a vibe.
Now, onto the tunes. There are two tracks here that I can’t shake off: “Rumination Fold” and “Ode.” Let me tell ya why these stuck.
“Rumination Fold” hits hard right outta the gate. The bassline? Pure filth. Like, the kind of low-end growl that makes your chest vibrate if you’re lucky enough to hear it on proper speakers. But what really gets me is how the track builds—it starts minimal, almost hesitant, like it’s tiptoeing through shadows. Then BAM, layers of synths creep in, glitchy percussion kicks up, and suddenly you’re caught in this hypnotic loop that refuses to let go. It’s moody as hell, kinda like staring at the rain from inside a dimly lit room while nursing a cuppa tea. You don’t wanna leave, even though you know you probably should.
Then there’s “Ode,” which flips the script entirely. Where “Rumination Fold” feels brooding and introspective, “Ode” bursts open with energy. It’s playful, bouncy, and packed with chopped-up vocal samples that sound like they were scavenged from old tapes found in a dusty attic. The beat has this infectious shuffle to it—you could easily lose hours dancing to this without realizing where the time went. For me, it’s the type of track that reminds you why house music exists in the first place: pure joy wrapped in rhythm.
What makes Black Sheep Vol II Runamucker stand out isn’t just its killer production or genre-blurring style. It’s the fact that it doesn’t try too hard to impress anyone. This album knows exactly what it is—a love letter to the underground—and it wears its flaws like badges of honor. Sure, it might not appeal to everyone, but that’s kinda the point. If mainstream electronic music feels like fast food, then this is slow-cooked stew. Takes time to appreciate fully, but damn does it hit different once it sinks in.
And here’s the kicker—I listened to this album during a power outage last winter. No lights, no heat, just my phone plugged into tinny Bluetooth speakers. And guess what? Even in those less-than-ideal conditions, the grooves still came alive. Maybe that says more about me than the album, but hey, sometimes chaos brings clarity.
So yeah, give Black Sheep Vol II Runamucker a spin if you’re tired of the same ol’ playlists cluttering your Spotify. Just don’t blame me if you end up losing sleep because you couldn’t stop hitting repeat.
