Entertainment For Lively Minds
Kate Director's Cut
Can I just be the first to say ...
Just got in from work and listened to Director's Cut, courtesy of Amazon's admirable postal delivery ...
This is really good, much better than the media reviews had led me to expect, and even after listening to Kate's long interview on the BBC, I was still rather dubious about the whole enterprise.
I wouldn't want just any old artist going back and rerecording their stuff, but ...
On the one hand, to be honest, people had really talked up Aerial a bit, mostly because we were so pleased to have something (anything?) from Kate, but, hush, whisper it, it was just a little on the bland side, especially the 2nd disc.
If you had the two albums side by side, Aerial and Director's Cut, and knew nothing about the past history of the latter, and listened with open ears, in the end you'd have to concede that Director's Cut is the better album
very unified, more spacious, more thoughtful ...
There, I've said it.
- More from sirbedivere.
- Login or register to post comments
-
Glad to hear it.
I treated myself in Fopp at lunchtime. Saving the pleasure for the weekend.
*fiddles with lovely CD packaging, impatiently*
3 out of 5, I´d say
Probably 4 out of 5 if you don´t know the originals by heart. It was better than expected. Favourites: This Woman´s Work and Moments Of Pleasure. There was a nice interview in ?=Ö%.
Have to take issue with...
the second side of Aerial being "bland". To these ears it's one of the most beautiful sustained pieces of music ever recorded.
sustained
sound, beautiful, but lacking in development for me, slightly repetitive. That's one of the reasons I like the Director's Cut material, change and diversity brings a sense of exploration, rather than the blissed out -- which may have its place, I guess.
Generally like it
Definitely a worthwhile project and purchase. Still undecided whether I like the originals or the new ones better.
I'd agree with Patrick that the second half of Aerial is one of the most beautiful pieces of music and up there with Hounds Of Love as her best work.
Having said all that, I'm currently finding that I'm playing the Danger Mouse / Daniele Luppi "Rome" album more than Director's cut. It's only 35 mins long, but with it's homage to Ennio Moriconne's spaghetti western themes, some sublime vocals from Jake White and Norah Jones, it's probably my album of the year so far....
Never fancied it
But. Only 3 months later I bought the last 3 copies in my local Asda for £3 each.
3 is a magic number.
I passed on Chris de Burgh's Moonfleet CD at £1. Even that is overpriced. I've heard it.
Might revisit this
I remember been really disappointed with Director’s Cut.
I don’t have a problem with the recycling of old songs but from memory I only really liked Song Of Solomon, Moments Of Pleasure and Never Be Mine (which is beautiful).
The other tracks didn’t really offer anything new. Will give it another go…
Generally, I felt
the Red Shoes stuff was at worst OK or an improvement and the Sensual World stuff was at best OK or a disapointment.
Still missing something
Had another listen and it's still missing something. I'll add Deeper Understanding to the tracks I like. I really want to like it but I just find some of the reworks really don't add anything new or interesting. Moments Of Pleasure is heartbreakingly good though...