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The Davis Enterprise Various Artists "Mi Selecta" They say that if a business can survive the first year, success tends to follow. Nowhere is that more true than in the music business. Well, this Bay Area record label has been around for what seems like ages now, and I'm always pleased to see new material that contains its return address. Best known for creating outstanding dancehall reggae, Positive Sound Massive has expanded its catalog into the realm of hip-hop, jungle and what only can be described as ambient-techno. "Mi Selecta," a showcase for up-and-coming producers, features a little bit of everything. With such a wide variety on display, however, it's hard to imagine any one person liking all 15 tracks. For instance, I was totally into the heavy grooves and DJ-laced specials heard at the beginning and the end, but the entire middle felt more like hip-hop hold music. The rap and dancehall from the likes of Rocker-T and Wookie J. play as good as I've come to expect, but before you spend your money, remember what it's designed to do: Listen to it all, find what you like, and then seek out the full-length features. This is PSM's first release of the century, and I expect that the best is yet to come.
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