Voojoo Rituals is a somewhat obscure Israeli psytrance compilation “mixed” by DJ Gidi. I say “mixed” because the mixing here is truly awful—but at least it is all in the form of short fades rather than long beatmatching. The packaging is peculiar; this CD comes in a kind of plastic case with a blue switch at the corner to eject the disc. Worth noting: Hovek Olam also released a vinyl sampler EP featuring four of the better tracks from Voojoo Rituals.

The compilation opens with Scotch, a killer collaboration between Domestic and Infected Mushroom. Ranging from dark and minimal to full-on melodic bliss, this track covers a lot of territory. It is easily my favourite from this release and a surefire winner for all fans of the early Infected sound. The mix into the next track is the worst on the CD, unfortunately. I wish that beautiful lead-out could be recovered somehow…

The Race, taken from Full On 4, is a serious piece of power trance featuring samples from the speedway. Instead of overt melodies, Passenger (Guy Zukrel) uses layers of tonal constructions that accentuate the bass line. Simple yet deadly, but not the best from this MFG side project.

The Psycraft remix of BLT’s Lemon is bubbly and cheerful. It combines a fast bass-heavy groove with fluttering melodies and pleasant atmospheric themes. Something nice for the morning time.

After Infected Mushroom, Dark Soho was seen as the next big thing from Israel in the year 2000. Madness features a menacing blend of grinding guitars, cinematic atmospheres, and heavy beats, remaining true to the sound of their debut album Sun Spot. This is one of the better early singles from the group.

Satlanation AKA Gorlation Corporation is made up of Assaf Dor and Nir Shoshani (better known as Hujaboy). Alongside DJ Gidi they provide a lesson in Bassology with fat chunky beats and dazzling psychedelic effects. There is definitely a bit of Plastic Zeus in this one (see my review of U.F.S. 2 for more about that).

Creatures From Outer Space is a collaboration between DJ Goblin (of Psysex) and Talamasca. It originally appeared on a vinyl single from 3D Vision Records, though this version may differ slightly as it is the “Interactive Mix” (and I haven’t got the vinyl handy to double check). This deeply alien track is pure quality—Goblin and Lestat really know their business. It casts the listener deep into the shining void, building toward an extraordinary climax that seems to go on forever. Fantastic stuff!

BLT’s Fluffer is a playful piece of trance. The stodgy beat clunks and grooves as wispy melodies spiral through the air. Deep and interesting: a sign of things to come for Yuli.

Look At Me is not the best from Infected Mushroom but that isn’t saying much; they’ve got a lot of range and even some of their less successful tracks are better than the gems of other producers. This particular offering sounds a lot like other tracks from this era—a mix between The Gathering and Classical Mushroom. Aside from the insanely cool melodies, this track undergoes a bizarre metamorphosis at the halfway point when the title sample plays and the kick drum fattens up considerably. This is certainly a keeper for fans of the iconic Israeli group.

Psycraft rounds it out with Wild 19, a strange tune with spooky hints of melody, a plodding groove, and ill-fitting samples about executions and other nonsense. The BLT influences are strong in this one but the results are mediocre.

Voojoo Rituals is a strange one. Like many listeners, I really don’t appreciate the so-called mixing—and the order of tracks is odd, to say the least. Still, this compilation offers great insight into the development of what Shahar, in his Isratrance review, refers to as the “new generation” of Israeli trance producers. As such, it is certainly worth a listen.

Future Navigators is the first compilation from the Israeli label MDMA Music. Compiled by DJ Dede, it features an assortment of energetic tunes from the end of the golden age of Goa trance. Some tracks are unabashedly old school whereas others have the feeling of something new—for the time. Most of the material on this release can also be found on vinyl, albeit in a variety of roundabout ways. Most critical is The Next EP, released by Sphere Records, which features four of the best tracks found here (others will be noted in the text of the review). Finally, it is worth noting that the compilation is very lightly mixed and contains numerous spelling errors (which I will correct for clarity).

The compilation opens with a question: Are We Happy? Xerox & Freeman explore the matter of how science has or has not benefited our experience of life in a rip-roaring, dance floor-pleasing fashion. This classic tune also appears on the Israeli DAT Mafia EP from Balloonia despite not appearing on the corresponding HOMmega CD release.

First Tour unites Itsik Benisti of Maskalin and DJ Dede under the banner of Cosmic Navigators. This is decent Israeli trance from 1998, notable mainly for the peculiar sample usage heard later on: a man rapidly reciting the alphabet. It was hailed as one of the highlights at the time of its release but I find it to be no more than a curiosity.

Tarsis teams up with DJ Kaaja to deliver Synergy Thrill, a charming, cheerful, and blithely innocent old school floor burner. Although the production quality is raw and the style unoriginal it still manages to please.

The Next. What can be said about this monster from Tim Schuldt? I still recall with clarity the obsidian tendrils of its influence on the dance floors of 1999, the delicate unfolding of its irresistible theme, its sinister beauty. This is the very definition of “underrated classic.”

The remix of Cellurian is a frantic tribal-tinged mind-melter loaded with peculiar samples and high-energy acid riffs. I remember liking it years ago but this is perhaps too crazy and incoherent to appreciate a decade later.

Lagoon is an obscure side project of Christof Drouillet (Absolum, half of Transwave). I’ve not heard a Lagoon track I will admit to liking so I sometimes wonder if this alias was setup to release music that even Christof found to be substandard. At any rate, it fits the compilation but fails to make a good impression on me.

Dark Horse by Nucleus is taken from a vinyl single from Atomic Records. Muddy drums and stodgy breakbeat patterns form menacing rhythms heavily influenced by the work of sound engineer Nick Smith (Menis). No matter; this track rapidly builds excitement with a howling lead melody, the phantasmal screams of some ancient being from the beyond. Excellent.

The release to a close with Polynesian Lion, one of the early Talamasca productions, back when it was more than just Cedric at the helm. This is tribal Goa trance with a bit of a “victory trance” (Nitzhonot) feel to it. Strong melodies and energetic breaks will have old school fans jumping, but it doesn’t really rank up there with the classics as far as I am concerned. Still, it is a nice effort.

The first Future Navigators compilation was very well-received in 1998. If you’ve heard it before, chances are that you might like it. If not, I have my doubts—the dance floor focus renders much of this release a less appealing for psytrance fans who aren’t nostalgic about partying back in the day. Still, there are a few classics here that should be heard—The Next and Are We Happy? for starters, and Dark Horse if you’ve not come across it elsewhere. Overall, Future Navigators 1 is above average for 1998 but not essential.