This double-disc set serves as an introduction to one of Good Looking's many sublabels, Nexus, with a mix CD and an unmixed CD of tracks. Managed by Tayla, one of Good Looking's most talented DJs circa 2000 and also a competent producer, Soul Survivors' aesthetic retains the same ambient washes and atmospheres so often attributed to the label-turned-dynasty while bringing a manic sense to the music, increasing the tempo and energizing the breakbeats. Yet even with the high-powered update of the Good Looking sound (aka "intelligent drum'n'bass"), it's still hard to mistake these tracks for those of any other camp besides Good Looking. Considering this, it's quite beautiful drum'n'bass, as with most of their releases. The problem arises with the glut of releases being churned out by the label in 2000, the year LTJ Bukem focused on crossing over into the mainstream, particularly America -- a daunting task that he combated with one release after another. Given the number of Good Looking titles to choose from in 2000, Tayla's Soul Survivors deserves substantial recognition, especially with its manic demeanor. Yet if there is one criticism preventing this album from deserving acclaim, it would involve the lack of diversity. A long-standing complaint against Good Looking -- and one that is not aided any by their oversaturation of the market -- is that the tracks cannot escape their oft-formulaic template: Lay down a drifting synth ambience filled with washes and then bring in the breakbeats and slow-paced basslines. Relative to most drum'n'bass circa 2000, Tayla's double-disc is impressive -- with some surprising talent showcased by Future Engineers -- yet in the wake of LTJ Bukem's near-assault of one Good Looking release after another, it seems only above average. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi

1		Timezone 1
2		Mainframe
3		Jupiter's Field
4		Voidcom
5		Re: Source
6		Realtime
7		Distance MK. II
8		Equilibrium
9		Testing
10		M 33
11		Persistence of Vision
12		Language
13		Jazz Lick
14		Dimensions
15		Wave
16		Project 2
17		Music [Peshay Re-Work]
18		Tokyo Dawn