by Sean CooperA definitive compilation of solid, consistently quality dancefloor tracks from the Rider's own Prototype imprint. Featuring a score of classic cuts from Boymerang, Lemon D, Ed Rush, and John B., as well as new material from Rush and Fierce, Optical, Matrix, Dillinja's Cybotron project, and Groove himself (as Codename John), The Prototype Years is a high-water mark of progressive, dancefloor-oriented drum'n'bass, with tight, chrome-dipped production and superior, innovative arrangements obtaining across the board. Although the artists' predilection for the darkside may at first appear simply du temps (the album was, after all, released in early 1997, during the height of techstep's reign in the clubs), each track maintains a notable degree of focus and integrity, drawing enough from each of the corners of the breakbeat world to remain just this side of trendiness. The CD version adds bonus tracks from the Prototype catalog, as well as a second disc mixed by Groove himself, also featuring the previously unavailable Dom & Roland remix of Boymerang's "Still." Nothing short of essential.