Original Old Skool Selection

No problems here as the two-CD Original Old Skool Selection rips through the heyday of rave with a smart selection of tunes that had all the glowsticks wavin' way back when (roughly 1987-1992). It isn't mixed -- fade-outs and cold starts are everywhere -- but many of the tracks are presented in their full-length versions and rightfully play beyond the five-minute mark. The more mainstream side of rave culture is well represented (2 Unlimited's "No Limit," Rozalla's "Everybody's Free"), as is the underground sound (Altern 8's "Evapor 8," Future Sound of London's "Papua New Guinea"), and the correct amount of classics that bridged the two sides are here as well (Ralphi Rosario's "You Used to Hold Me," A Guy Called Gerald's "Voodoo Ray"). The more obscure numbers are just as well chosen and everyone old enough to have been there is going to be surprised by some forgotten gem (Praga Khan and Shut Up & Dance -- right on!). Sweetening the deal are the helpful liner notes, which are the proper combination of sentimental and factual. ~ David Jeffries|