Various - White Rhino

V/A "White Rhino" was always a hit and miss release in my opinion. For a 1997 compilation, it certainly does sound more challenging than just about anything that was out on the market at the time, which should strike as no big surprise as it comes from an era when Flying Rhino Records were trying to elevate the entire psy trance realm to new heights. So let's see what the music has in store for us:

The two openers are gorgeous downtempo numbers, especially the first one, which opens with something that sounds like plumpish drops of water hitting the surface of a pond, just before the acoustic guitars come in over dubbish beats... Mice On Mars is just as nice, a bit more upbeat, but still staying in touch with the chilled out side of things.

My beef however, starts with the third track, and goes all the way up to track 7. Ikengo by Psyko Disko is not really bad, just doesn't live up to my expectations. Demented, yes, captivating, no. More straight forward and stripped down that their previous work. Great job on the drum programming though, some really erratic patterns in the kick!
Germinator, Planet BEN, Ololiuqui and Bumbling Loons unfortunately all fall into a disgraceful and uninspired category of bland minimal tunes. While much credit would be later on given to Flying Rhino Records for having brought, and hugely helped develop, the whole progressive psy thing, these tracks are just substandard in anyone's language, and all four artists have done much better.They're repetitve, and attempt playing the hypnotizing card, but once they fail to captivate your attention after two to three minutes tops, they just irritate.
Redemption comes in big style with the last three tracks. Slinky Wizard's People Like Us shows just why do the previous progressive numbers leave a lot to desire for, while Chai Machine is, plain and simple, one of the most original old school tracks ever! With over eleven minutes of running time, it's really vintage goa trance done the way it should be; melodic, moving, epic and really taking listeners on a loooong journey. Blue Planet Corporation puts an end to things with Crystal, which is crystally clear not psy trance related, but when music is so highly emotional and frank in its intention to speak to whoever might be listening, I cannot possible imagine anybody giving a damn. The duo Lebras & Masurel hardly ever made a wrong step back then, and this is not an exception to that unwritten rule.

To conclude, essential it is not, and in my opinion chances are not so good it will ever become as sought after or popular as some other compilations from the label's hey day. The low points are not so impressive, but the noteworthy tracks here rank as some of the finest music ever released on Flying Rhino. Unfortunately, today "White Rhino" is ridiculousy over priced, so many may get turned away. But for those willing to pay up, certain parts of this release are the cream of the crop of old school psychedelic trance.