Kate Bush - ”Hounds Of Love” (1985)

I notice a big 80s presence in recent posts. Maybe a bit odd considering my view on this musically dark decade, and my beleif that I actually don't own that many 80s albums. Yet, here comes another one, this time a truly great album.

Hounds Of Love was Kate's fifth album and her best selling up to date. And, according to many, her career's best album (so far). I'm inclined to agree. Kate recorded this album all on her own at her 48-channel studio, and delivered the album to EMI finished. Or it was a 24-channel recorder, the info on the net varies, but it doesn't really matter. The album became her breakthrough in the U.S.

I bought the record as a teenager and it's one of relatively few albums I appreciate as much as an adult as I did as a teenager. Perhaps even more today. Although the album was recorded in 1985, and although the Fairlight CMI synthesizer is used a lot, the sound is timeless. For which we are most grateful. It's a bit of a cliché, but it could have been recorded today.

On Hounds Of Love Kate manages to find the perfect balance between accessible and difficult, radio friendly pop and art, heaviness and lightness. Should I improvise a definition it may be art pop. Side A consists of the suite Hounds Of Love and starts out with three pretty fast paced songs (including the hit Running Up That Hill), then the beautiful and tranquil Mother Stands For Comfort and finally ends with something in between, Cloudbusting. The listener is awashed with sound on the up-tempo A-side and the production is far from minimalist, but certainly not extravagant. Once again, a perfect balance.

Side B consists of the suite The Ninth Wave, which apparently was inspired by a painting by the Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky with the same name.
 

I have always experienced side B as more esoteric and dark, it's as if Kate saved her difficult ideas to this suite after side A's musically and sonically uplifting mangling. Not to say that it's too difficult, though. A favorite song of mine has always been Hello Earth, thanks to a pair of extremely mysterious choir parts. These parts are an excerpt from the Georgian song Tsintskaro and sung by the Richard Hickox Singers. As a teenager these parts were probably the most mysterious thing I had ever heard. Maybe it still is. Kate also whispers something I never understood, which made it even more mysterious. Thanks to the internet, I now know why I didn't catch it - it's in German. "Tiefer, tiefer. Irgendwo in der Tiefe, Gibt es ein Licht." which translates to "Deeper, deeper. Somewhere in the depth, there is a Light. " If this is not mysticism, then what is? It also happens to be the case that it isn't Kate who whispers these words, it's her pal Gabi Zangerl.

Well, after this show of mysticism the album finishes with the slightly lighter The Morning Fog.

Hounds Of Love gets high positions on various lists like "Best album of the 80s," "Best album of a female artist," etc., in addition to my personal top-ten list. A record that can be recommended with a warm hand, quality music that is both accessible and interesting. It pushed down Madonna's Like A Virgin from the number one spot on the UK list, which suggests that the British recognize quality when they encounter it (nothing bad about Madonna, though).

Tracklist

Side A

1. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) 5:03
2. Hounds Of Love 3:02
3. The Big Sky 4:41
4. Mother Stands For Comfort 3:07
5. Cloudbusting 5:10

Side B

1. And Dream Of Sheep 2:45
2. Under Ice 2:21
3. Waking The Witch 4:18
4. Watching You Without Me 4:06
5. Jig Of Life 4:04
6. Hello Earth 6:13
7. The Morning Fog 2:34