Day 0650 -The Sensual World

Kate Bush "The Sensual World" (1989)

I preferred Bush's earlier, weirder, more eclectic offering "The Dreaming", but this is still a strong collection of songs.  Kate creates mature pop without losing all of her adventurousness of sound.

The songs manage to work in elements of world music in an unobtrusive way.   Including a lot of backing vocals from Trio Bulgarka, a Bulgarian vocal ensemble and the inclusion of some Celtic folk instruments.  These elements are used to serve the songs rather than dominate them.

Day 0585 - So

Peter Gabriel "So" (1986)

Huge success for Peter, helped along by high rotation of the unusual and entertaining video for the funky single "Sledgehammer", not to mention the fact that PG's handsome mug was displayed unadorned on the album cover for once.

While there are some familiar 80s sounds here with synths and stabs of brass and some synthy slap bass, Gabriel manages to add his own touches to the songs.  Whether it's his solid songcraft, including elements of world music (including a guest spot by Youssou N'Dour), elements of experimentation (including a poppy duet with wild-card Kate Bush), or just his own strong and versatile voice.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, and could see why the blurb it the book holds it up as a good starting point for getting into his work.

Day 0557 - Hounds of Love

Kate Bush "Hounds of Love" (1985)

 Following the relatively poor sales of her previous album "the Dreaming" Kate holed up her studio to work on this critically acclaimed album... that seems somewhat bass ackwards to me as I loved 'the Dreaming' but found this one to be only half as interesting.

Both albums are batshit crazy in their mixing and matching of different genres and sounds.  This one possibly mixes even more sounds with synths, choirs, folky celtic percussion, genteel strings, vaguely tribal tones.  I find the variety enjoyable, but I just think that the songs on "the Dreaming" are the stronger compositions.

Day 0506 - The Dreaming

Kate Bush "The Dreaming" (1982)

Kate Bush was a hot property with the success of "Wuthering Heights"...unfortunately this album didn't do quite as well as that release.   It's a shame because this album pushes the boat out; presenting interesting and experimental music that still has a foot well and truly in the pop world.   If I was going to go past and future on this, it sounds like it's drawing on a little of the 70s-era Sparks, but also sounds as though it has gone on to influence artists as varied as Tori Amos, Camille, Florence and the Machine and Marina and the Diamonds... on top of that, it was also cited as an influence by Big Boi from Outkast, and Björk.

The album features a range of instrumentation that includes tribal percussion, Celtic fiddles, backwards vocals, drum machines and even a bazouki.  The music is quirky, interesting and varied, and the album rightfully gained prestige as the years passed.

Day 0459 - Peter Gabriel III (AKA "Melt")

Peter Gabriel "Peter Gabriel III" (AKA "Melt") (1980)

 
Gabriel was well clear of his Genesis 'Prog' sound, and with his first two relatively quirky and eccentric solo albums also behind him, he seemed content to settle into a groove as a purveyor of interesting and innovative art pop-rock in the vein of Berlin-Bowie and Brian Eno. He even uses Eno-regular Robert Fripp on guitar, along with his Genesis bandmate (and vocal replacement) Phil Collins.

PG experiments with world music (sampling African chants for one song) and new technology, playing around with drum machines, and studio trickery to produce an album that seems a collision of human with machine.