As is often the case with remix albums these days, there are quite a few instances here where so little of the original tunes remain that it's almost better to view Kicking a Dead Pig as either a collaboration album or an entirely new animal altogether. Regardless, there's no shortage of listening pleasure here, mostly falling into a mode that could be described as "organic trance". Things start out a bit slowly with Hood's minimal-bassline-driven remix of "Like Herod"; with a few exceptions, very little happens beyond minor guitar embellishments. "Helicon 2", as reshaped by Max Tundra, raises the energy immediately, leading a thundering onslaught of pounding guitars, feedback and battered cymbals that coalesces into a sinister, expectant melody that grows steadily more beautiful before flaring up again towards the end. Arab Strap's version of "Gwai on 45" makes use of both a live breakbeat and more traditional club beats, while layering bass ambience over everything. "A Cheery Wave From Stranded Youngsters", as rebuilt by Third Eye Foundation, is a sprawling feedback structure supported by heavily processed, almost womblike drumbeats. Techno fans may gravitate to "R U Still In To It" -- the steady 110-or-thereabouts BPM rate, vocal sampes and theremin intrusions make it viable for more adventurous dancefloors. In a move that's sure to irritate import buyers, Jetset have packaged the "Fear Satan" remix EP with Kicking..., and this is a source of high points -- in particular, Mu-ziq's almost-symphonic rebuild and Kevin (My Bloody Valentine) Shields' epic 16-minute opus, which reminds us of how much the world needs a new MBV album. If you balk at anything beatless, Kicking a Dead Pig almost certainly isn't for you; however, if you enjoy the subtler pleasures and challenges of "math rock" and electroacoustic music, it'll get your boat a-floating.
Mogwai Kicking a Dead Pig Jetset Records CD
			Review by George Zahora

---