She didn't lose the slap.

... she looks like a chubby Siouxsie Sioux.

it's a bit silly, and I like the fact she's all made up and looking a bit 80s.

And Billybob Dylan, if that's your definition of 'Chubby' you need to fix the screen resolution on your monitor, load an image of Posh Spice to calibrate it properly.

the only woman alive who can make fingerless gloves sexy.

It appears to be alternating frames of a Coke bottle on it's side and a Coca-Cola logo.

I'm not sure I would have recognised her unless you'd said who she was. I thought it was Millicent Martin.

Always good to have her back though.

going on there. Unless she's been living in a dark cave for the last 20 years.

To me her music has occasionally been very interesting, but on the whole of the "Hello Clouds, Hello Sky" teen bedroom romantic variety. She is though, undeniably one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.

This combination of occasionally interesting twee and utter gorgeousness is the root of her extraordinary popularity these days. To a generation of men between the ages of 35 and 60 she is an idealised version of that most idealised of woman they will ever meet - their first true love.

She's come to represent all thats most fragrant, mysterious, sexy, and just different in the species known as "women" that you get to know in a huge sensual rush when you cross that line. For most of us in that catchment group she will always be the nymph in the pink T shirt who seems unaware ( and uninterested) that every man in her vicinity is drawn like magnets to her chest line.

On one level I think she always knew that a large part of her popularity rested on this idealised identification of her. It may even have explained her Garboesque retreat from public viewing. Much easier to go with the teenage image then watch the evolving woman.

And now she's gotten old.....

Blue girls come in every size, some are wise and some otherwise.

teen bedroom romantic variety"

You clearly ahven't been paying attention. Even 'The Man With The Child In His Eyes' which she wrote at 14 is way past girlish attitude to love.

its in the lyrics.

'Breathing' for example from the viewpoint of an unborn child as a nuclear war occurs.

We've lost our chance
we're the first and last
After the blast
Chips of Plutonium
Are twinkling in every lung.

Not exactly lightweight. As an attractive woman she used her looks to further he career. When asked about those famous leotard shots she bristled at the idea that they were somehow forced upon her.

A woman can use her attractiveness as can yer average boyband bozo. Accept that in Kate's case there is so much more substance. Not just a pretty face and all that

I still would ...

And it sounds as if your gathering in the saloon as I type. But it won't change my mind. In mitigation a couple of things I should say..

1) I've got every album she's ever produced.

2) Some of them are exceedingly good.

3) I am in no way a strenuous critic of her work

It's interesting and enjoyable in parts, but so is the work of any number of her contemparies - Gary Numan, Midge Ure, Souxsie etc. But then so are UB40.I just don't buy her as some major musical force.

In many ways she parallels the Clash - a lot of middle aged men in opinion forming environments lionise them as some sort of legendary "rebels" (when they were nothing of the sort...) cos they represented that to their teenage selves. I think Kate has the same sort of position for different reasons.

Christ on a bike! No wonder she keeps herself to herself, if the appearance of one new pic can induce such heavy breathing on one hand and disrespect on the other.

I have to say his comments ring major bells with me. I always thought Ms Bush was someone whose music I ought to like more than I actually do.

Chunks of Hounds Of Love and Sensual World are really good (although the best bit on the former is of course Popol Vuh), but I was hugely disappointed by Aeriel - that song about a woman doing her washing? ( (c) Liam Gallagher). And it comes across precisely in the Hello Birds etc fashion, to my ears.

Each to their own of course, but in my view she's good without being great. Sorry.

& her looks are the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned (& I'm a bird an'all!). One of the many reasons why I've followed & loved her work since I was a teen is her artistic daring & her ongoing interest in dark, taboo subject matter.
Yes, her neck's thickened a bit but she's in her 50's ferchrissakes. I got a buzz from seeing her happy, hamming it up & all dressed up instead of the soft-focus, serious treatment.
It's always great to have her back. National Treasure etc etc.

not sure about her latest project though, since it covers albums which weren't my favourites,maybe I'll give it a go though Not sure it will reach the heights of The Hounds Of Love or Aerial.

and Music Matters. I wonder if she will be releasing the "new/old stuff" through them.

View it large. S'lovely.

and the dreaded "autotune" can clearly be heard.

The Sensual World is a cracking album but Red Shoes is bobbins so I'm looking forward to seeing what she can salvage from that. Just leave 'This Woman's Work' alone. Ta

The 'Directors Cut' is coming out on her own label 'Fish People'. In conjunction with EMI? I assume she's still with them despite all the upheavals. Maybe its over to Universal now for the reissues

I saw the picture in the OP and inwardly scoffed "there she is again, being all mysterious and enigmatic". But then I thought that it is probably impossible for Kate Bush to be anything else.

If it was a straightforward picture of her in the style of, say, Daniel O'Donnell - smiling and stroking a labrador - I would still wonder what it could possibly *mean*...

... I am fairly indifferent to all three of these. I like some of their stuff but that's it.

I own no Richard Thomson albums.

Perhaps I should change my user name to "pariah" during the next amnesty?

Or I really will get upset.

she wants her wardrobe back.

Or in this case Sergei Eisenstein

And if you think she's all about 'hello birds, hello sky' you've not seen her burn up the stage like this:

From what I'm gathering here, Kate's gone back and re-worked her old albums, correct? Not always a good move; she re-recorded ‘Wuthering Heights’ for the Greatest Hits collection, and totally missed one high note on ‘Cathy’, which grates to this day. Sometimes just a polish up of the EQ from the studio masters is all that's needed, otherwise it can be an unmitigated disaster; Jimmy Page being allowed to remaster Zeppelin, for example. He should have just shipped them to Bob Ludwig and had done with it.
Back on topic, while I've got all Kate's albums, several original vinyl bought on day of release, like 'Kick Inside', I'm happy to admit 'The Dreaming' leaves a bit to be desired, and 'Red Shoes' has never worked it's way into my affections, but I really love 'Aerial', especially the second disc, particularly when Kate starts laughing. The girl's got a filthy laugh.
She's got a beautiful house in South Devon, too, but sadly wasn't in last time I called round.

"Wuthering Heights"? Blimey, who knew?

critical hype was expended some time ago in the various media regarding Joanna Newsom. Lyrically very strong, agreed; melodically inventive; vocally accomplished, but however hard I try with 'Have One on Me' after about 20 minutes I'm thinking, put some Kate Bush on and listen to the real thing.

Anyway, I'm with the 'Kate: Genius' school of thought. Hounds of Love is the best album for sheer bravado and accomplishment, though the earlier albums may have been the more influential in the long run. TBH, which other solo singer songstress apart from Joni has had the influence and originality ...? Isn't even L Gaga a bit Kate Bushy?

The Auto-tune is as precisely as horrible as the snippets would suggest. Why in the name of fuck would you replace the Trio Bulgarka with Auto-tune..? I don't care how in keeping with the lyric it is to computerise the chorus, it sounds shite.

Otherwise, obviously redone main vocal and drum track, both perfectly acceptable, but not essential. Doubtless other tweaks too, but they didn't leap out.

Here it is:

EDIT: The above link is not the short mix I heard on R2, but a longer version with a completely different ending and much better for it. The auto-tune/vocoder effect is still horrid though.

It's a grower

Lyrics very dated now.

'I feel complately lost without my little black box' is something a lot of people can relate to. 'I turn to my computer as a friend' etc

But the modem\fax screech is soooo 90's. Katie. You got BT Infinity yeah? The vocal is still strong but the autotune is flippin hideous, like a kids TV show from the 80's version of 'the future'. The new arrangment and rhythm patterns are very 'Ariel' in tone

I'll still buy the album no doubt. But not until after a quick pre-purchase listen

Kate Bush Ltd: "Dividing the nation since 1978"

Kate Bush releases her new single, a brand new version of “Deeper Understanding”, on Tuesday April 5. The single is released digitally and had its first play this morning, Monday April 4 on Radio 2. A new short film to accompany the track will be premiered in a few weeks. It’s directed by Kate and stars Robbie Coltrane, Frances Barber and Noel Fielding – and Kate’s son Albert plays the role of the computer programme. He is also featured in the song, singing as the computer programme.

Kate’s new album “Director’s Cut” is released on May 16, the first album to be released on her own label, Fish People, which will be distributed by EMI. The track-listing for the album, which sees her revisit and, in some cases, re-record tracks from two of her classic albums is:

FLOWER OF THE MOUNTAIN (a new version of the song originally titled ‘The Sensual World’)
SONG OF SOLOMON
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING
LILY
RED SHOES
THIS WOMAN’S WORK
MOMENTS OF PLEASURE
NEVER BE MINE
TOP OF THE CITY
AND SO IS LOVE
RUBBERBAND GIRL

Kate says: “Originally when I wrote the song ‘The Sensual World’ I had used text from the end of ‘Ulysses’ by James Joyce, put to a piece of music I had written. When I asked for permission to use the text I was refused, which was disappointing. I then wrote my own lyrics for the song although I felt that the original idea had been more interesting. Well, I’m not James Joyce am I? When I came to work on this project I thought I would ask for permission again and this time they said yes. It is now re-titled ‘Flower Of the Mountain’ and I am delighted that I have had the chance to fulfill the original concept”.

All the lead vocals and drums on “Director’s Cut” are new performances, some of the tracks featuring guests including Steve Gadd, Danny Thompson and, on backing vocals, Mica Paris. Three songs have been completely re-recorded, one of which is “This Woman’s Work”.
Kate adds: “For some time I have felt that I wanted to revisit tracks from these two albums and that they could benefit from having new life breathed into them. Lots of work had gone into the two original albums and now these songs have another layer of work woven into their fabric. I think of this as a new album”.

Kate Bush is currently working on her new album of brand new material.

as the Word Massive men. Couldn't she have got rid of those grey hairs too?

Well I am a 40 yr old male and I actually got into Kate Bush quite late just after 'Sensual World' came out and I then got everything from before and since. Sensual World is probably my favourite KB LP so I am a little worried about the new versions but I am looking forward to it as anything new from her is welcome. I loved 'Aerial' - thought it was very atmospheric and very very beautiful in places (the person who mentioned 'the washing machine song' - you are spot on) That track and The Coral Room are awe inspiring. I have only heard the new single once (Deeper Understanding) and yes her son is the new 'computer' and yes his part is completely different to the original but if she had not changed anything we would all moan. Have just seen the track listing and I do worry that nothing coulod improve 'This Woman's Work', 'Top of the City' & 'Moments of Pleasure' but i look forward to listening to how she has tinkered with them. Just glad she has not changed 'Rocket's Tail' which is probably my favourite track ever of hers

since when has a vocoder been autotune???????????????????????????????

Sorry Woodface, but have to disagree with you on this one, I'm with Bernkastel-Kues. Not only is David up there with Kate but I'd say that in terms of being an important presence on the musical landscape he went floating past her years ago. I used to adore Kate's music, but Red Shoes was patchy to say the least, Ariel was bloated and dated and the one track I've heard from the new one doesn't inspire me with confidence either. Her muse (whoever/whatever it was) sadly seems to have left her after the wonderful The Sensual World, which was released in 1989. She was a dynamic, thrilling, important artist for eleven years 78-89; unfortunately she's been a largely irrelevant, unengaged and usually inactive one for the last 22 years.

Compare that with Sylvian's constant questing (though admittedly not always successful) musical adventures incorporating a range of styles from hard rock through to the classical avant-garde via dream-pop and electronica/glitch in that time via albums such as Rain Tree Crow, The First Day (with Fripp) Dead Bees on a Cake, Blemish, Nine Horses' Snow Borne Sorrow and the upcoming Died in the Wool, the cover of which reminds us that no-one has eyebrows to match David's!

Although his standing is not always fully appreciated by the UK media, who seem to struggle to get over the image he adopted as a twenty year old, he is thankfully appreciated elsewhere, as highlighted by his being named the Artist in Residence at this year's Punkt Festival in Norway, arguably the world's most intriguing music and arts festival:
http://www.davidsylvian.com/news/david_sylvian_is_confirmed_as_artist_in...

And if you want an indication of undeniable musical evolution/questioning over more than thirty years this provides it:

By contrast, Kate sadly got stuck on one sound and has seemed incapable/unwilling to move on which for fans like me is a real pity.

Incidentally, David and Kate were born a few miles from each other - Beckenham/Bexleyheath - and within a few months of each other in 1958 and also used to occasionally hang out together in the late 80s.