Following a handful of singles and EP’s, Australia’s R.M.F.C. finally released a full length album at the end of 2023. Although ‘Club Hits’ didn’t feature as much raw sounding material as ‘Television’ (a highlight from 2018’s ‘Hive’), its collection of short and sharp workouts made for great listening.
This two track release from 2025 finds the band branching out a little further. Whereas the album (and previous works) seemed heavily weighted to two minute bangers, this pair of recordings stretches the band’s arrangement skills on lengthier tracks. Not that ‘Ecstatic Strife’ – the stronger of the songs – sacrifices any of the expected R.M.F.C. energies. The opening riff is actually one of the band’s best to date. A bright, jangling sound immediately recalls early, classic recordings by fellow Aussies The Church, and the arrival of a spiky, post punk infused bass and natural vocal makes the track sound even more like a Steve Kilbey composition from 1981’s ‘Of Skins & Heart’. It’s a perfect example of how, if you’re going to borrow, you should borrow from the best. As things progress, the musicianship presents itself as incredibly tight. The chorus is powered by an almost militaristic drum; the bass continues to punch through everything in a classic post punk style, and although the vocal feels a little buried, its semi-raw approach suits the music perfectly. Despite being a minute or so longer than a majority of R.M.F.C. tunes, it doesn’t actually feel longer; everything comes with the pure force of one of the band’s two minute affairs, and its to their eternal credit that they’re able to deliver such a tight performance.
Slowing down, ‘Golden Trick’ adopts a strong 60s influence. Chiming guitars and stately percussive elements are joined by the ringing sounds of the sitar, which immediately evokes memories of a couple of mid sixties Kinks tracks, and even a little inspiration from The Stones’ ‘Satanic Majesties’. This allows for a darker mood to take centre stage, and it’s a great backdrop for a deep vocal that, again, doesn’t always fit with the band’s norm. What’s clear, from somewhere around the end of the first verse, is that the semi-droning melody and slightly detached vocal are a great match. What really sells this track, though, are the instrumental bridges. The eastern melodies are given the full scope to share a huge musical hook on an arrangement that doesn’t suggest any real immediacy. Playing like a piece of newly discovered treasure from the Decca archives, this is unlikely to be anyone’s all time favourite track, but it’s great to hear the band trying something different.
Whilst neither of these songs attacks with the immediacy of earlier works by R.M,F.C., it’s hard to imagine fans being in any way disappointed. ‘Golden Trick’ is markedly different from your usual R.M.F.C. stock but it’s still enjoyable, and although ‘Ecstatic Strife’ shows a more melodic core, it feels like a natural progression from the ‘Club Hits’. In fact, it’s the perfect vehicle for bringing in new fans – especially those keen on early Church recordings and other Australian post punk sounds. This might be short, but in a world where attention spans seem to be a thing of the past, that certainly won’t hurt R.M.F.C.’s cause. With two very different tracks and a feeling that this band have now reached the peak of their musical confidence, this is a recommended listen.
August 2025