KATE BUSH

50 Words For Snow
EMI/Fish Music

Kate Bush burst onto the scene as the somewhat bookish, yet quirky dancing and seductively clad siren with left of centre tunes that somehow struck a chord with the masses. Success was relatively rapid, but it would be unfair to say that it came ‘easy’ for Bush. For some time she has been the perfectionist, which has lead to her releases becoming rarer than rocking-horse shit and bordering on the more obtuse and nutty.

Early in 2011 Bush reinterpreted some of her own tunes on Directors Cut, but it is her latest work 50 Words For Snow that has kept the full lipped, auburn haired singer locked in the studio for years on end. At first glance the album is about the most magic feature of weather as Bush falls in love with a Snowman during Misty and hunts the Yeti on the albums only possible radio song Wild Man, but 50 Words For Snow again finds Bush exploring the human condition (through her sensual eyes).

Although only having seven tunes, brevity was not the aim with the shortest tune pushing the seven minute mark. The sparse piano and well chosen orchestration set a tone that is only interrupted briefly by Bush’s son, Elton John and an earnest sounding Stephen Fry.

Bush continues to beguile and confuse all at once with 50 Words For Snow being a far warmer listen than the title implies.

_CHRIS HAVERCROFT

xpressradio by X-Press Magazine

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