week XVII

[Al Truest]

As we anticipate the release of Kate's new album; we wonder what it will sound like. How will she have evolved?

We can't know for sure; but, we can site some examples of her growth and her influences. Based on a few clues, like some of the collaborators; we can assume Kate has admired some of their work in the past. Mitch Karn, Stuart Elliot, Peter Erskine and Del Palmer to name a few.

This week's setlist has much of the aforementioned artists works, as well as an evolution of Kate's music.
I also tried to spice the list with some direction or influence that appeals to me- a real Kate fan.

Here goes. Please listen to and comment on these 6 Kate plus 6* bonus tracks:

1) 'Wuthering Heights' "TKI" where it all began.
* 'Don't Give Up' Peter Gabriel " her idol and influence
see the entire video w/Peter and Kate @ www.petergabriel.com/ go to video (QT player)
2) 'Violin' "NFE" so indicative of her performance artistry
* 'Third Stone from the Sun' Jimi Hendrix. A huge influence on Jaco Pastorius and his favorite drummer Peter Erskine (plays on the new project) click on:
www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1104015&cart=150261162&style=music
3) 'Mother Stands for Comfort' "HOL" first branching?
* 'Elegant People'
* 'Fast City"....Both Weather Report, some jazz fusion influence with Peter Erskine on drums (latter track) URL:
www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=5078361
4) 'Houdini' 'TD" great song showing new growth
* 'Joga' Bjork, whose path of weirdness was paved by Kate Bush. Check out this CD that uses samples from sounds of the earth such as geysers and glacier movements. Even better, the full video is at this URL:
bjork.com/videogallery
5) 'All the Love' more mellow Kate. Elliot and Palmer too.
* 'Third World Man' Steely Dan, "Gaucho" whom Kate had so much respect for (collaborative style) Great song!
Peter Erskine has also worked with Steely Dan. check out "Third World Man"@ music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=4ZIS3GPADM&ean=8811205522
6) 'Why Should I Love You?" "TRS" See the contrast from song one. I hope she steers away from this style. I"m pretty sure that she will. The new effort should be a departure from 'The Red Shoes" More jazz-world-fuson? Who knows. What do you think??

p.s. I would have include "Night of the Swallow: and some AfroCelts selection, but we'd just covered those. However, that is more of the direction I hope she goes, with a little influence from world-jazz fusion.

[Sto]

Well, I'm going to just do the Kate tracks to start with, then hopefully the other artists later in the week.

"Wuthering Heights" - as soon as that high-pitched voice begins the track, I am enchanted by this song. It sticks in your brain, especially the fantastically catchy chorus. I wonder if this song was written to be a hit? It has a very original sound, which perhaps was risky for a first single. But as Kate is about the unusual, it was a perfect choice.

"Violin" - it's interesting to see how this developed from the demo to the album version. She uses a whacky voice on the latter but not the former, which allows us to see how her imagination and creativity developed in those few years. This was an ongoing process which, in my opinion, culminated in "The Dreaming" and "The Ninth Wave". "Violin" is a great song overflowing with amazing vibrancy and originality. Like "WH", it's hard to make out the lyrics at times!

"Mother Stands For Comfort" - This song is just amazing. The best bit is without doubt the "make me do this, make me do that, make me do this, make me do that...", it sends shivers down my spine every time. Once again, Kate had matured between "TD" and "HOL" and this song really shows the transformation. I'd have liked to see this as a single, even if it wasn't radio friendly. There's an interesting change from minor to major for "to her the hunted..." which catches me off guard every time, showing, once again, the originality and unpredicitibility of Kate's work.

"Houdini" - This song is intriguing. I had to research Houdini after hearing it. Kate has an amazing ability to take someone's life, or a story, and turn it into a song. It's not easy to do without sounding cheesy, but she can do it. She really becomes Mrs Houdini, like she's acting a song. Although the string interludes perhaps go on a little too long, which drags down the excitement of the song, it's still a super track.

"All The Love" - This is a very good song and thanks to Zan and MT, I understand it a bit better now. "The first time I died" is a lyric which I'm sure very few other artists would even think of writing down in a song. Kate takes the unobvious and puts it right in front of our eyes. I hope she continues to do this in her next album!

"Why Should I Love You" - The only Kate song that I dislike or, dare I say, hate. Apparently the pre-Prince version of this was great, but I really find this hard to listen to. I skip it every time I listen to "The Red Shoes". I will not be overly pleased if she chooses to adopt this style for her next album, but hey, maybe I'd get used to it...!

[Al Truest]

Thanks Sto'. I have modified my post since your replay. I too don't care for the last selection. I used it to exemplify where the music probably will not go (hopefully) A sample for "Third World Man" was
also linked. The guitar break in that song is so good.

[Sto]

Oh, I agree that "Why Should I Love You?" is an important part of Kate's journey. It shows that she's just human and how superior she is to Prince! (no offense to any Prince fans reading this, I think he's ok really! ;D)

But seriously, I think Kate has spent so long on the new album to avoid slips like "Why Should I Love You?" She's going to be very careful to pick the songs she wants. Surely she was forced to put "WSILY?" on the album, as it was a collaboration?

And I look forwardc to discovering the other selections, including the new addition!

[Al Truest]

I also would not mind if she returned to her roots on some tracks. Maybe something based on a literary figure. More celtic and Irish influences maybe as well would be nice. Loreena McKennitt has much success with that center to her music.

[Al Truest]

stoicsquirm said:

Well, I'm going to just do the Kate tracks to start with.....

"Wuthering Heights" - as soon as that high-pitched voice begins the track, I am enchanted by this song. It sticks in your brain, especially the fantastically catchy chorus. I wonder if this song was written to be a hit? It has a very original sound, which perhaps was risky for a first single. But as Kate is about the unusual, it was a perfect choice.

"Violin" - it's interesting to see how this developed from the demo to the album version. She uses a whacky voice on the latter but not the former, which allows us to see how her imagination and creativity developed in those few years. This was an ongoing process which, in my opinion, culminated in "The Dreaming" and "The Ninth Wave". "Violin" is a great song overflowing with amazing vibrancy and originality. Like "WH", it's hard to make out the lyrics at times!

"Mother Stands For Comfort" - This song is just amazing. The best bit is without doubt the "make me do this, make me do that, make me do this, make me do that...", it sends shivers down my spine every time... which catches me off guard every time, showing, once again, the originality and unpredicitibility of Kate's work.

"Houdini" - This song is intriguing... Although the string interludes perhaps go on a little too long, which drags down the excitement of the song, ...

Sto', I picked out my favorite observations that you've made.

* You ask if 'Wuthering Heights' was written to be a hit. You probably know this but EMI had wanted to release 'James and The Cold Gun' as her debut single.
Kate stuck to 'her' guns and you see the result. Can you imagine how differently she would have been received under EMI's direction?

Without belaboring your other points-
*I concur with your astute observations, except 'Houdini'. What is it with you and 'strings'

[Sto]

No, I didn't know that "James" was going to be the first single! To be honest, I doubt it would have made much of an impact, although it's a great song. As for on "Houdini", I think I've just heard the strings section a few too many times! Sometimes I wish I could hear the songs for the first time again...

[august]

I've been taking my time enjoying these selections. Kate has a way of going into areas very few others do. Not being content with the usual feel good rhythmic driven top 40 formula, she uses the music to create a world that is fasinating to visit. From ghosts (Wuthering Heights, Houdini) to the influences of others (Mother Stands For Comfort, Why Should I Love You) From regretful yearnings(All the Love) to deranged obsessions (Violin). She covers more territory which makes it impossible to ever find her boring.

[Al Truest]

August, I guess that is why we're still discussing her music today. Art endures. We still read and discuss Keats, Browning and the like. But, the clever politcal and social satire of the past just goes away. The same will be true of most of today's top 40 hits.

What do you and my other friends think of some of the bonus selections. I also liked the sites that included complete videos, such as Bjork's and Peter Gabriel's webpages.

Comments?

[august]

I liked them. Especially the ones by Weather Report. I too would like to see Kate do some new work more in the jazz vein. I'm not that much into Bjork however I can see the comparison with Kate. Peter Gabriel is great. Jimi Hendrix is awesome. These selections fit very well and show how Kate could use different musical influences to her advantage.

[Al Truest]

That is a mild surprise to me, August (that you prefer Weather Report over Bjork) See if anyone else picks up on the amazing bass and percussion on these selections.

Since you liked Weather Report, investigate Joe Zawinuls 'Faces and Places' at the same website. Check out tracks 4,5, 7-12 and 14.

Sto' I believe you would like these as well. Anybody else agree? If you don't, tell us why. If you do, also tell us why.

[Xanadu]

Well I've gone with just the Kate here so far, but here are my thoughts:

Wuthering Heights: The innocence of voice and melody. The purity of longing and loneliness in the delivery. I still get goosebumps when I hear it, which was coincidentally about a week after finishing the book (see "how I discovered Kate Bush")! Kate couldn't have timed it more perfectly! Maybe were due for more literary references as inspiration (she'd had lots of time to read)...

Violin: Showing her other influences here with such a Roxy Music sound, but I have mentioned that before. Try adding "Do The Strand" if available for comparison. Kate definitely took some vocal delivery from early Bryan Ferry and his ethereal sound later, maybe she'll follow his trends (he is reuniting currently with Roxy and rediscovering some of his 70's glitter glam fun)?!

Mother Stands For Comfort: Not a huge fan of this song. As a matter of fact, I skip it most of the time. I think it stops the motion of the first side of the album. Maybe for side 2 or another album. Maybe I just have a "mother issue" I don't find it that comforting. But the motherhood idea could come forward in this album... maybe?

Houdini / All The Love / Why Should I Love You: These all go together for me.

The main idea of the Houdini's was escape and love beyond the grave. (Harry Houdini was another interest of mine before I even heard this song, so not much research was needed). Harry Houdini was obsessed with reaching his dead mother through a series of psychics & mediums, then discovered they were all frauds. He spent the last part of his life studing the afterlife and supernatural. He told Bess (his wife) that he would use one word through a psychic to reach her, if it was possible. She died without ever reaching him.

All The Love I discussed at length ( ) already, so you all know my feelings about this song.

Now, the feelings about Why Should I Love You. This song is really more profound than you give her credit for. Maybe the Prince sound wasn't right for it, we'll never know I suppose. But everytime, EVERYTIME, I look at an image of Jesus, I think of this song and ask myself the question, "Why SHOULD I love you?" I am a great skeptic about faith and ask too many questions, as I believe Kate does with this song. Asks many questions about the nature of love, faith, and death in these three songs.

So where is she going next? Who knows. I hope deeper like Peter Gabriel. "Digging in the Dirt" as he does. But wherever, it's further on down her path of development as an artist, and I'm willing to listen to what she has to say. She takes all the influences in: music, mythology, literature, film, motherhood, religion, art, etc. and paints yet another portrait for us to enjoy.

Let's just pray she doesn't slip into "ADULT CONTEMPORARY" (wince) like so many of her fellow artists.

[Al Truest]

There are so many directions she can go. But I can tell you for sure, it won't be 'adult contemporary'. It will probably be a variety of melded influences. If you get a chance to listen to the bonus tracks; let us know which of these directions you would favor her music going.

[Al Truest]

Hey, somebody listen to the bonus tracks!

[Sto]

Have no fear, Rob has come to the rescue of the bonus tracks!

Peter and Kate - "Don't Give Up"
A beautiful song, which didn't instantly appeal to me but definitely grew. Both have beautiful voices and I think they bounce energy and inspiration off each other. The message of the song is reassuring and somewhat reminds me of "Love And Anger"'s "You may not, not think so now, but just you wait and see, someone will come to help you..."

Jimmy Hendrix - Third Stone From The Sun
I actually know very little about this man and his music and whne I clicked the link, I was expecting heavy rock which would blow my eardrums out of our very own Third Rock From The Sun. I was pleasantly surprised and liekd what I heard a lot. Not a style that I can imagine Kate donning, but I did like the drumming, it was much softer than that which usually frequents Kate songs (especially that from the 2 most recent albums).


'Fast City"....Both Weather Report
Well, Kate likes a bit of jazz in a Berlin bar, so maybe she'll move slightly towards this direction for the enxt project. I know that some people reckon she'll use jazz influences, at least. I like jazz, although I'm not as keen on modern jazz, but nevertheless, it'll do.


Steely Dan
I couldn't find the song you mentioned, but I listend to "FM", "Black Friday" and "Babylon Sisters" and this is music that I ADORE. Definitely my cup of tea. I can't really see Kate moving in this direction, I feel that she'll create a whole new type of music for the whole new album. However, I certianly hope she draws some influence from this kind of music! Thank you for introducing me to this artist, whom I haven't heard of before - I shall investigate further!