Kate Bush – The Sensual World

Kate Bush had transformed into a mainstream force with her seminal fifth album "Hounds of Love", turning around her flagging fortunes by capitalizing on the visual medium and experimenting with structure, atmosphere and sound effects. Having already tightened her songcraft and finally experienced her commercial and artistic breakthrough in the album stakes, Bush opted to go even more expressive, mysterious and hypnotic on "The Sensual World", her long-awaited sixth outing. Released in the final year of what would come to be known as the defining decade for Bush, the album was a continuation of many themes, namely her coming-of-age, with maturation of sexual desire being one such relative thread, boldly countering the fervid, gothic-tinged teenage lust of "Wuthering Heights" that had such an impact on the British public in 1977.

Now in the big leagues and less beholden to her label, Bush could be as self-indulgent as she wished, delving further into her fascination with the past and future and the exaggerated ion and pain of classic literature, never once sacrificing melody and mood. In fact, "The Sensual World" is her most aurally pleasurable and sophisticated record, boasting a profoundly affecting overall tone, marvellously dynamic arrangements and lusher production than its predecessors.

Whilst Bush had already established herself as a boundary-pushing, commercial-leaning artist, striving to evolve in of instrumentation, studio proficiency and lyrical extrospection, herein she is on decidedly bleak, intimate and otherworldly form, disinterested in pleasing fans and critics alike. Granted, owing to a perceptible lack of whimsy and narrative motif, this is not quintessential theatrical, playful and romantic Kate Bush, but its layered synth-pop-prog template is unmistakable since, much like other superstars of her ilk operating at the peak of their powers in the mid-to-late '80s, her approach was very recognizable even when stylistic variations occurred.

"The Sensual World" continues the gravitas, grandeur and sultriness of its predecessors, adding a subtle air of desperation and fear, in turn expanding the horizons of Bush's lyricism. ittedly, despite her four-year toil, another run of chart success did not transpire, but the benchmark songs at its core, all steeped in surrealism, self-examination and imbued with a dichotomous chilliness and warmth, more than compensate for the absence of big hits and heightened divergence and bite that she employs throughout.

RATING: 4.5/5

Played on the right deck/ cartridge combination this record absolutely excels with detail, depth, and separation.
As a life long fan I think this album and Hounds of Love are Kate at her best. Rocket’s Tail and This Woman’s Work are sublime and still manage to reduce me to tears after all this time.

Besides Kate's remarkable range and delicate treatment, Mick Karn's signature fretless bass on Heads We're Dancing is outstanding