All You Cruisers - THE KATE BUSH VOTING THREAD (ilm artist poll #24: deadline Saturday 25 August)

I've just downloaded a random mp3 of Experiment IV (hard drive death earlier this year, original got lost) and it has a two-minute violin intro I've never heard before O_O

Was just listening to "Houdini" on The Dreaming -- and agree re. her using her voice to interrupt the mood of the song. But I'm a little less sold on it being "punk." I mean, it's punk I guess in the same way Van Der Graaf Generator is punk.

It's punk in the way that "Bach swings" (Wynton Marsalis).

submitted

my album breakdown:

kick 2
lionheart 0
n4e 1
dreaming 4
HoL 4
TSW 3
TRS 1
aerial 2
50words 1
nonalbum 2

Not to forget that Peter Gabriel, perhaps the epitome of "Prog Gone Dark", was a friend/inspiration. A lot of his approaches towards production, especially around his third album, influenced Bush.

As I think about this, the specter of Peter Gabriel actually is a bit of an inhibitor for me w The Dreaming. Despite the obvious presence of her own aesthetic, the combination of the thundering "Intruder" drums, Oompa Loompa background choruses and queasy near-field lead vocals manage to keep the record from fully transcending his.

Which makes the thundering drums of "Hounds of Love" and "Running Up the Hill" a triumph!

N4E is mad underrated.

I'm excited about this poll but I'm definitely not voting. I've realized I only really like a handful of KB songs. Can't really handle her high-pitched vocals. :/

Which makes the thundering drums of "Hounds of Love" and "Running Up the Hill" a triumph!

The drums are still thundering but HoL employs a very sequenced Linndrum sound Gabriel never really until So -- and by then, his aesthetic was quite different. Plus, on HoL, the Oompa Loompas were largely put out to pasture.

the new 'Director's Cut' version of Moments Of Pleasure wipes the floor with the TSW one imo.

This afternoon I made myself a version of The Sensual World with The Director's Cut tracks subbed in. Never Be Mine absolutely rips out of the speakers now, that's never happened before.

I liked your Red Shoes piece, Alfred - it's an album whose day will come imo. I'm a little surprised she revisited so much of it for The Director's Cut though, it sounds pretty good to me now. Anyway, this is my favourite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYr2bUxmQts

This is a charming little video too. I don't go seeking out fan-made stuff as a rule, but that one's great.

piscesx OTM. I love that version. I even voted for it!

makes me teary, actually. I think the choral stuff on DC and 50 Words... is wonderful. "Lake Tahoe" seems to take the mood of Popol Vuh's choral music as used in "The Third Wave" and updates it subtly - though still within a song context of ice, water and snow.

(just now realized I had written that same thing on the '50 Words" thread. Sure sign of old age: failing to catch yourself before repeating yourself. )

She thanked Florian Fricke on HoL IIRC because she nicked/sampled his Nosferatu in "Hello Earth." Which kind of predicts her Trio Bulgarka stuff on the next two records.

Yeah - it was "Hello Earth". Not "The Third Wave" - stupid lapse, sorry.

No worries, I hadn't even known this until earlier tonight when I read the (very good) Stylus piece on HoL.

It's the last working day for voting. Do it today!

btw I've acknowledged every ballot I've received. If you haven't had a reply, let me know. I'm still waiting for at least half-a-dozen on this thread to submit.

gonna do it, though probably not til saturday

Not to ratchet up the pressure or anything, but I've just done a midway count and right now there's a tie for no.1; and in the albums there's three points in it. Use your votes wisely, my friends.

god this was painful. submitting my ballot now.

Kinda regretting a couple of my submissions now...wanted a more cross representational ballot but now realise most of fave tunes are from one album...oh well...

Excellent "Dreaming" era interviewhere. Tons of other stuff to read KB-wise on taht site.

my ballot will be in by close of play tonight. i hope my number 1 is one of the ones tying for the lead.

I was listening to "Snowflake" last night. I'm still curious as to whether it's her son singing/ reciting all the main lyrics on that with KB handling the chorus. Or possibly a blend of both their voices. I think whoever it is sounds like her but isn't her.

thought it was the other way? KB does the verses, the "i am dust..." parts are her son (cuz she can't really hit those high notes anymore)

If you listen closely on the verses the "r's" are pronounced in a way that isn't typical of KB. Very soft, almost like a "w". And that same voice is the one singing the high, choirboy parts. Then it's definitely KB singing "The World is so loud..." throughout.

I always thought all the high voices were Bertie's, but on listening now the verses *could* be Kate or a blend of the two. Still think it's more likely him though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRgiOclY-H4

An early treat. Consider this a reminder.

contender for best 20 minutes on youtube.

That haunted house still contains a tombstone with Kate's initials on it!

last day for voting, slowcoaches

VIOLIN VIOLIN

Time to nag. I don't think I have anything from the following heads: or something, Tim F, rogermexico, Noodle Vague, surm, Euler, electricsound, Naive Teen Idol, Owen P, Oblique Strategies, piscesx, Alfred, contenderizer, Matt. All contributions gratefully received.

(apologies if I've got it already, it's a little hard to tell who's who sometimes. If you have sent but haven't received an acknowledgement, then I haven't got it)

i'm finalising my list right now. Saturday night and i'm home alone listening to Aerial all the way through. this has never sounded so poignant.

ismael you have one from me, email wellsmj1 at hotmail dot com.

yes, i'm one of those people who still use hotmail.

Ach, now I look like the bad guy

made a fool of me in front of all these people.

Sorry dude - I could give you my geocities address and no-one will ever laugh at you again

thanks man. i think this might be the kick up the arse i need.

I'll be submitting a list this evening - just come back from holiday and am having a Kate day. Just checking - presumably the deadline is 11.59pm UK time?

Yes, but I'm not going to be too strict about it - if it arrives before I turn my mind to it tomorrow it'll get counted.

i done it!

Which would be preferable, a short ballot that's basically a ranking of The Whole Story, or no ballot at all?

I'm going to (controversially) say no ballot at all - I haven't tallied for a while, but there were some interesting things showing up last time I did and I wouldn't want to see them pushed down by all the singles getting an unfair boost. Do join us for the countdown though!

Alfred - there's an anomaly in your ballot, check your mail.

Fair enough! I was dubious about casting an uninformed ballot just for the sake of voting. I will save my save my ballot and see how it compares to the results.

alright, sent. lemme know if you didn't get it, ismael.

the kick inside - 3
lionheart - 2
never for ever - 3
the dreaming - 3
hounds of love - 4 (worked hard to cut this down, could have been half my ballot)
the sensual world - 3
the red shoes - 2
aerial - 2 (both disc 1)

director's cut - 0
50 words for snow - 0 (only because it's so new to me)
non-album - 0

I've just acknowledged one that doesn't say 'contenderizer' but I think is yours, try again if you don't get my hearty thanks