Deconstructed

It didn't/doesn't.

I can understand how hardcore dance fans might like it, but to anyone who can call themselves a Bush fan, its sacrilage of decent British rock. Its a basic case of letting a bunch of DJs (whom one might call dance experts) loose on a rock band. It just doesn't work. They'ev just put loads of beats and synthesised sounds on an album and then justified it by having Gavin's voice singing: 'Swallowed....swallowed....' over the top. I can't believe I found it in the Rock section of my local HMV!. I had it promptly returned to the store and subjected the poor, innocent till operator to a lecture on how it definitely wasn't rock. OK, I might have seen it coming with a list of DJs on the back of the case, but I've seen other dance/rock dos that really do sound good. But this really is just 99% sub-standard dance with 1% husky voice that with a little imagination might just be Gavin's.
So, I've you're a hard dance fan, you might go out on a limb and try this. However, if you're a Bush fan, stay away unless you become twisted with resentment like myself.

One leading criticism was always that they were pretty much the same, unoriginal and unexciting. Third album, 'The Science of Things', though not their best, possibly put that right - incorporating a surprising variety of styles and electronic influences (most notable on first single, 'The chemicals Between Us'). The approach has already been hinted out, however, by the 1997 stop-gap release of 'Deconstructed', a remix album of songs from Bush's first two albums (plus one cover).

Not everything works, and 'Swallowed', while not bad, doesn't live up to the original. At times, this sounds rather like just putting Gavin's vocal samples over fast and dirty dance beats and loops. A rather 'by numbers dance remix' that demonstrates what so many people dislike about remix albums (and I know a few that don't like this).

To my mind, however, that's more than made up for by the hits that do work. 'Bonedriven' is one of the highlights - Mekon's beats really great and transforming the song significantly, with Gavin's 'b-b-b-bonedriven' over the top. I've already admitted difficulty in writing about dance music (an understatement), but this song gets the mix just right trust me. Closer 'In A Lonely Place' (a New Order cover) is also notable for being a darkly menacing track, as you might expect with Tricky at the controls.

The highlight of the album, for me, however is the Lunatic Calm reworking of 'Comedown'. If you're not familiar with Lunatic Calm, they're generally a breakbeat/techno act, who's biggest hit 'Leave You Far Behind' was featured on the Matrix soundtrack. Here the approach is much more laidback, a gentle intro with the repeated 'when it all comes down' lyric, before bursting into life yet without ever get too uncomfortably fast either. One of those great songs that could be a dancefloor or chillout hit, and almost worthy of admission price on its own.

An overall verdict's a bit hard. I can see why some people (Bush fans etc) don't like this album. I accept it does sound a bit samey across the whole album too - but then I tend to find this with both this type of music and Bush anyway, it's not much of a problem with background music really. My verdict though is I really like this album. Not quite a love it to bit classic, but easily a solid 4* good album.

The only problem is trying to define who it might appeal to. Obviously by mixing Bush's fairly traditional grunge-rock format with techno/breakbeat/drum and bass dance music, you run the risk of pleasing no one and upsetting everyone. Well, I'd say if you're an open minded fan of either, perhaps you should give this album a try - and if you like both then certainly. Also if you like other rock/dance/industrial crossover acts - say Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, The Damage Manual, Crystal Method, Lunatic Calm, and the like it might also appeal.