S3RL: OLD SKOOL MASTERS

SCORE: 95/100




From the iconic tracks to the deep cuts, 'Old Skool Masters' is a must for anyone looking to get into happy hardcore - or anyone who is already a fan of the genre. S3RL's quirky production and bouncy hits will leave you coming back for more every time, and 'Old Skool Masters' is a delightful showcase of his production talents especially. 

It's a blessing that the world was graced with an actual LP by infamous DJ S3RL, because without it we wouldn't have non-mix versions of songs like 'Dealer', 'Little Kandi Raver', and of course 'Pretty Rave Girl'. S3RL's quirky and internet-based style has led to some truly iconic tracks and mixes, with this album being an absolute core component in his lengthy career. 

'Old Skool Masters' manages to feel like one long party, with the songs sounding different enough from one another while keeping a generalized consistency in style and genre throughout the hour-long project. It's an absolute essential for anyone that is into happy hardcore - as S3RL is one of the artists that does the genre better than anybody else. 

The more instrumental-based tracks that lack vocals when compared to some of the bigger songs feel a bit lackluster when compared to the singles generated from this album, but all of the tracks are solid and they come together into one album that works very well and does what it needs to be doing at each and every turn there is.

'Old Skool Masters' showcases both the harder and more upbeat & quirky sides of happy hardcore, with S3RL's production coming through masterfully on each track where the grooves switch up and keep going to make tracks that glide along their long runtimes excellently - the tracks don't drag unless you let them; if you let them take you on the journey that they were made for you'll have an absolutely incredible party of a time with this album.

(*The version of the album I listened to [streamed right from Spotify] was missing 'Little Kandi Raver' and instead played 'Pretty Rave Girl' twice despite 'Little Kandi Raver' still being in the tracklisting? Not sure if this was a bug on Spotify's part but it was strange nonetheless)

S3RL had debuted long before this album came out - making it a great combined effort of his work and style that he had time to polish and work on until it came out stellar - this allowed for him to put out a more consistent album for what would technically be considered his debut; and it's an impressive feat.

From the heavy 'Dealer' all the way to the melodic 'Let U Go', 'Old Skool Masters' doesn't let up for even a second - delivering constant energy that is both infectious and well put together into what feels like one long mix that you simply can't put down.

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