Kate Bush

Actus....you owe it to yourself to buy Aerial. I'm convinced this is the best thing she's ever done.

At first play I thought the album too "sanitised" compared to her earlier work such as "The Dreaming". A judgement I regretted after the second play (200 since then). It's long and complex but an immensely rewarding listen.
It's so intimately presented that sometimes there is a sense that you are actually inside the composer's head and you feel honoured that she allowed us to hear this Work.

Kate is possibly the only composer I can think of who could write a song about a washing machine and make it profoundly listenable.
The principal guest stars on this album are the legendary Rolf Harris, and of course Kate's young son, Bertie. Rolf illustrates his artistic skills and even gets the chance to sing a verse. As a child I remember marvelling at how Rolf could create an impression of the Outback using a full sized decorators paintbrush. Kate's album is a fitting tribute to the man.
Some of the songs are so quirky (e.g. "Pi", where she sings the value of Pi to over 120 decimals) that your brain may struggle to absorb them at first.
Disregard your preconceptions and recognise true genius which achieves it's full expression here.
To those unfamiliar with Kate's work, if you dare "put your hand over the side of the boat" she will own your heart...

I didn't intend a makeshift review-come-thread-hijack so apologies for that.... :)
Best....

Moonglum,
Thank you for this wonderful post; please do not apologize! I am so happy to know that there are others on this forum who appreciate Kate as much as I do. I've been a big fan of hers since the 80s when I was still in my teens. I rekindled my deep appreciation for her work as I got back into vinyl a few years ago. What an artist.

I had tears coming down my face when I put on "This Woman's Work" on vinyl many years after hearing this song for the first time. Not many artists can make a grown man cry as he listens to his turntable...

I discovered "Aerial" a few months ago and I am absolutely enchanted by this album. I feel exactly the same way you do about it. It's not an album; it's an experience. How ridiculous is it that I only know it through youtube? I've tried to get it on vinyl but it commands a rather steep price of upwards of $130 every time it comes up for an action. I have been unable to find it anywhere else.

It's so amazing that this woman can experiment to such a degree and still create most unbelievable music. Yes, to me she could probably sing the phone book and it would sound great, but what she has done is so artistically unique and beautiful, she has no equal among female artists, in my opinion.

I don't want to turn this post into an ode, but I simply must say that "Sunset" from "Aerial" is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. It's simply perfection. It humbles me realizing that someone can be so talented as to create something so sublime.

Actus...you are not alone by any means my friend... :0)
Your post puts the case far better than I ever could.
Reason I posted was that I listened to the entire album yesterday afternoon and was reminded of your interest. Aerial has been one of my top3 Desert Island Discs since its release and it just keeps getting better. Despite being an analog diehard I can say that all the emotion is available even from the CD and the digital production is so good that I don't feel cheated. Listening to it on a pair of electrostats every nuance of the voice is conveyed.

You read my mind on Sunset.
Every time I hear it, its sheer urgency makes you feel like climbing the aerial yourself to catch that last glimpse of sunset fire....
Best Regards...

Something you may be interested in Actus : getting back to the technical details for a moment I must say that Kate's vinyl productions are among the most lavish, no expense spared examples I've seen. This is one artist who really takes Analogue seriously.
I'd pre-ordered the "Director's Cut" and "50 Words.." last year abd was blown away by the production values on the D/Cut. The attention to detail was almost unprecented.... anti-static poly lined paper sleeves, properly de-burred immaculately clean and properly finished records, a generously sized book of notes...
Sumptuous and perfect-looking is the only way to describe it.
There were criticisms about the analogue sound on DC by some...
Here is Kate's take (on Analogue) and the logic behind the D/Cut in a rare BBC Radio4 interview :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b010vxyv/Front_Row_Kate_Bush_in_a_rare_interview_and_John_Cleese_reviewed/

I was referring to her earlier work. I have a copy of Ariel and although it is a fantastic album, my vinyl is terrible. I listen to the CD which is pretty good