Kate Bush // 50 Words For Snow

Both Elton and Fry sound better on record than in theory. They're not playing too much to type.

i would have expected that actually. does that mean you've heard the record?

hang on what stephen fry is on this?????

:(((((((((

i had been really looking forward to it!

i mean...i guess she's had rolf harris and peter gabriel on her records before. maybe it won't be so bad :/

She's had Lenny Henry on a record before!

I'm no Fry fan but he pitches it just right - not doing his crumpety national treasure thing.

haha has she really?! which one? maybe that's what louis walsh meant all this time

'Why Should I Love You', in particular the middle eight 2'45 to 3'30.

I'd be proud to have Rolf Harris on a record of mine tbh

The Stephen Fry track is my favourite. Hats off to Kate Bush, the woman who put Lenny Henry and Prince together...

....Hats off to Roy Harper...ooh she had him on a track

John, may I compliment you with your exquisite interview with Kate?

Thanks man, I really appreciate it. It was a fraught experience especially seeing as she disagreed with a lot of things I said and she was insanely proficient at changing the subject and talking about me instead of her but for someone who plays her cards close to her chest I think she told me quite a bit. Very, very pleasant to talk to as well. She was quite high on my wishlist, so a bit of a dream job for me.

ummm YEAH

Yes, I think she opened up a lot too! That was my impression. Maybe it's a defense mechanism, but oddly enough she seems most at comfort when she's being interviewed without challenge, like a talk on the radio, earlier this year at the beeb, or someone like Jools etc. From the interview I don't get the impression that she was so proficient to change the subject, or reluctant, it's actually quite unlike any other Kate interview I ever read ~ and I read quite a few. That's why I think it's a brilliant piece of writing, hats off to you sir.

talking about anything to kate bush is a life-long dream of mine and you've lived it so kudos to you sir

Excellent interview John!

find it hard to read reviews of Kate Bush but that interview is a treat

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu216/le_bateau_ivre/UEKoi.gif Album is streaming on NPR http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu216/le_bateau_ivre/UEKoi.gif

omg

l;jkasl;dfkj;lasjfl;jk

.....

:-D

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only on track one but LOVING it so far. oooooh within a minute it's proper kate bush and i have forgotten about director's cut.

aw shit so far this ruuuules

This is really beautifully produced. THANKS KATE!

it's sort of "kate bush does a talk talk record"

I think I am going to have to gladly back-pedal from my negativity about this now that I'm hearing the whole thing.

I don't think what she is doing at this point lends itself to singles, and that's okay.

Can't listen just now, but this is all hugely encouraging.

Just on the first song but... wow.. speechless :'-)

npr isn't telling me which track i'm listening to atm but the piano on it reminds me of "all the love" from the dreaming.

my only nitpick with the album is that i wish she'd vary the piano sound more.

I was thinking of saying how much I am enjoying the piano.

I really didn't enjoy the single but so far this is sounding good. Misty in particular is incredible.

So predictable perhaps, but I like it more in the context of the album, but I am liking it more as a distinct track even, if that makes sense. Listening to it in the sequence of the album has somehow changed how I hear it. (Maybe just coming back to after not listening to it would have had that effect, but I doubt it.)

Yeah I have to be predictable too and agree it sounds a lot better on the album. Another thing is the last few times I've heard it have been on Radio 2 where it usually gets cut off after the second chorus (at least) but actually it gets quite beautiful after that.

Just listened to the Elton track, which is also pretty amazing. This is shaping up to be a really great album.

Just listened to the whole album for the first time. Just... wow... Amazing.

I actually adore the sparse and singular use of the spaciousness of the piano and just her vocals. I have to admit the single dragged me out of my trance at first, but it does make more sense in the album's context (though it won't ever be a favourite of mien I think). The Elton John song is actually really good (would've preferred Scott Walker but hey, can't have it all) and the Stephen Fry song isn't nearly as bad as it sounds on paper. The closer is magical.

<3

yeah i really like the stephen fry song.

Stop hating on "Director's Cut", y'all!

Gave it two spins yesterday and am really positive about it. I'm especially taken with the first half, which is mainly Kate with her piano (something I've hoped for for a long time). The three pop songs (so to speak) of the latter half seem to create a whole different side. I've always liked the single (though the song is nothing special), don't have any opinions yet about the Elton John song (didn't move me in either way) and thought the Stephan Fry song was very MOR. The last track takes us back to the sparse sounds of the first half. Which makes me wonder if it wouldn't have been better to leave the pop material of the album. Then again, I've disliked the Morning Fog for years because I felt nothing should come after Hello Earth, while I now feel it is the perfect closer of one dark ride of an album. Time will tell! But thanks again Kate, for giving us another helping of your goose bump inducing work!

And Director's Cut is a very pleasant album indeed!

I listened last night, though it was so late that I must've fallen asleep in the middle because I never heard 'Wild Man' at all. I kept thinking 'she's nailed it' or 'he's nailed it' about everything, though that might've been my dreams talking. I'm sure the Fry track was terrific anyway; neither he nor John sound terribly like themselves.

One thing I am sure about is Kate's voice never sounding deeper or older. I'd like to hear her talk about her relationship to it.

I'm part of the small minority who never got Aerial - which always sounded like preciously pedantic MOR to me - but I have to say I'm tempted by the new one

Oh, second disc of Aerial is as MOR as it comes. But the first disc is amazing!

baaderonixx, if you feel that way about Aerial, I doubt you will like the new one. Listen to it online before buying, if possible.

Now I remember, I was also having reveries about influences last night. I can see Talk Talk, yeah, also Dog Man Star and there's also an old tape I used to have of US alt-rock - I want to say The Replacements but I'm sure that'll be wrong. Anyone who strayed off-piste with pianos in the very early nineties, I think.

@baaderonixx: I do feel that 50 Words has more stamina than Aerial. My problem with Aerials' second disc is that it sounds so lifeless. Even the outbursts within the music - the second half of the title track and the second half of Sunset - are somehow muted. I feared the same for 50 Words, the album being sparse and all, but Kate plays with passion and fire.

Am I the only one who thought, 'Lol, So Solid Crew' on hearing the title track?

Well I didn't think that :)

This album so hits my bull's eye... And I love Bertie's singing on the first track. I do still feel the single gets me out of my trance from the first three tracks though, album takes a whole new direction after that, with John and Fry, even though I love those too. But the first three and the closer are sheer magic.

listened to this after midnight last night, fell asleep in the middle as well, but it was all beautiful.

SO EXCITED

i haven't got my head around this enough yet to say anything more, but: SO GODDAMN BEAUTIFUL

Thanks ILM for sending me on another Kate Bush kick

I love this album.