In this, the world of target marketing and focus groups, one doesn't have to look very far to explain how a disc full of techno remixes of Bush tracks got into your local record store. Surely a combination of two of today's hottest commodities (electronic credibility and Gavin's soulful visage) would mix like peanut butter and chocolate, making even Reeses green with envy at the resultant sales figures. However, one small detail has been overlooked, and I endeavor to discuss this very detail with you now, ahem.

Okay now. I ask you, is the average Bush fan a rave-goer? And conversely, could one possibly imagine one of those cryptic young Americans in big pants secretly hiding a passionate love for Bush's pseudo- grunge? I tell you this now: the answer is no. I cannot deny that there are those who can honestly testify to liking both the thunderclap pound of heavy techno and the scrubbed rebellion of those persistent pop- rockers Bush. But I doubt even they particularly want to hear these remixes. There are no big names here, either, unless you count Tricky (whose contribution has been culled from The Crow: City of Angels soundtrack, anyway).

In any case, it goes like this: the disc begins with a few tracks setting up pretty standard breakbeat dance interpretations with big Bush presence. Vocal loops, guitars, even lyrics leak into the first few tracks, undoubtedly a nod to their rocker fans who still distrust the mysterious tek-no genre. Then, as if magically, the presence of the band slides deep into the background of what are pretty much standard techno offerings, a little bit of drum-n-bass here, a peek at house there. Nothing magical, just respectable dance. And I can only imagine where the Bush is in some of the tracks, which is not necessarily bad thing. But let's have a reality check now: do you really want to get your techno in the form of a bunch of remixed Bush trax? Drop your money on something better, like Mo-Jave or Urbal Beats. You Bush fans will probably want to steer clear too, unless paying full-CD price for what are probably three or four likable tracks is what you want to spend your hard- earned dollar on. It's not that it sucks, but it falls quietly and without fight into the "forgettable and disposable" file.

-James P. Wisdom