Even if you don't remember the name, you will recognise the voice - Kate Bush is unmistakable in her quirky high pitched style, for which she will always be best remembered.

In "The Red Shoes" Kate uses less of her piercing falsetto than you might expect from the songs that have gotten most radio play time. Indeed, many of the songs on the album are ballads, in which she demonstrates her range by singing in quieter, deeper tones.

The album opens up with The Rubberband Girl which was, if I remember correctly, the first release from the album and got a fair bit of air time on MTV when the album was released in -93. It's by far the most "poppy" tune (no, not the plant, I mean "pop-like") on the album, with Kate singing the very catchy tune in her familiar falsetto voice. The backgrounds are simple and "bouncy"; guitar drums a chorus a few horns and a synthesiser create the soundscape. Towards the end there is a "vocal-wave" by Kate and the choir. That's the best I can do to describe it - when you hear it you'll know what I mean. I thought it was a nice innovative touch. All in all, a very "rubbery" song indeed!


And So Is Love

The second song departs sharply from the twang and the snap of the rubber in the opener. This is one of the slower, deeper songs that I mentioned, with Kate abandoning the falsetto for a lower voice. This ballad features Eric Clapton playing electric guitar in the background (nothing too spectacular though). There are background singers as well, and the synth plays a big part. I would describe this song as "dreamy", with a slightly cold "lonely" atmosphere.


Eat The Music

Is a lighter tune, with mandolins and guitars creating a happy atmosphere, and background singers performing in a way slightly reminiscent of traditional African music. Horns also make a late appearance, adding flavour to this exotic beach party atmosphere. Kate hides the falsetto again in this song - her lower voice is very distinctive and very nice, but I was sort of hoping that she'd let it go for a few brief bursts of a sharper pich.... *sigh* I guess I'm just a sucker for the strange and peculiar.


Moments Of Pleasure

A ballad with a more acoustic feel than in "And So Is Love". Also, what is different is that Kate does allow a few glimpses of her high pitch at points. The strings and the piano work to create atmosphere, and set the background for the lyrics that call for appreciation of the moment, and the need for someone to share life with. All in all, I like this song.


Song Of Solomon

Another ballad, this time with Kate singing in her girlish high voice, and the chore following her like a shadow, repeating the some of the lyrics.


....Hear a woman singing
Don't want your bullsh*t, yeah
Just want your sexuality
Don't want excuses, yeah
Write me your poetry in motion
Write it just for me yeah
And sign it with a kiss....



Lilly

Starts with a quiet prayer of sorts - then Kate begins with synthesised backgrounds on the.... well, background. In the chorus, Kate sings in a deeper voice, with her falsetto-voice playing on the background - very nice. The lyrics are mystic, presenting no real discernible "message". Then again, not all songs need deep messages.


Red Shoes

Undoubtedly my favourite on the album, I consider this to be one of Kate's best songs ever. The beautiful, quirky, piercing falsetto dominates this song - the background mandolins and flutes build the energetic tempo of the song, bewitching an unexplainable desire in you to put the track on repeat and listen to it all night long... the lyrics fit in beautifully; they tell a story of a pair of enchanted dancing shoes that send their wearer to a dancing frenzy. This song seems to have captured some of that magic - I can just feel my feet trying to take me spinning around when I hear this song, despite my near total lack of dancing skills... Some of the lyrics again:

Oh she move like the diva do
I said I'd love to dance like you
She said just take off my red shoes
Put them on and your dream'll come true
With no words, with no song
You can dance the dream with your body on.....
.....Oh the minute I put them on
I knew I had done something wrong
All her gifts for the dance had gone
It's the red shoes - they can't stop dancing...



Top of The City

A sort of a part-time ballad, this one. Quiet spells interrupted with a more hectic, insistent, disturbing vocals. Not a bad song, but not very remarkable or memorable either.


Constelation Of The Heart

The song features backgrounds 80's style, the choir playing a big part - a nice touch is a sort of a dialogue in the song between the choir and Kate. All in all, a good song, though not among the best of the album, if you ask me.


Big Stripey Lie

The most experimental, alternative piece on the album - quite strong, curious soundscape, with Kate singing most of the song in a style best described as sounding like recitation of some strange prophesy. The lyrics are appropriately cryptic:

Oh big stripey lie moving
Like a wavy line
Coming up behi hi hind
All young gentle dreams drowning
In life's grief
Can you hang on to me
Don't want to hurt you baby
I only want to help you
I could be good for you

Although not a party-song, nor an atmospheric song, I still find this track strangely appealing. Don't listen to this if you have a headache though.... the electric noises can be a bit... skull-splitting at times.


Why Should I Love You

In a way this is a nice thing about this album - it has plenty of contrasts. This song starts like a soothing balm to alleviate the discomfort the previous track may have induced among more mainstream oriented listeners. The song opens up to a fairly catchy light choir tune with Kate's voice taking center stage as usual.


You're The One

The album ends with a slow, nice ballad. Kate sings of longing for "the one" all the while braking up with him. A song of regret and hope:

It's alright I know where I'm going
I'm going to stay with my friend
Mmm yes he is very good looking
The only trouble is he's not you
He can't do what you do
He can't make me laugh and cry
At the same time
Let's change things
Let's danger it up
We're crazy enough
I just can't take it
You're the only one I want


Conclusions

Altogether a good album, with "Red Shoes" alone making the album worth the cost. Still, I found that I got tired of most of the songs fairly quickly. I think that one of the main reasons for this was the - in my opinion - overt use of the synthesiser. That sort of gave a shallow and "artificial" feel to many of the songs. Still, I did get a kick out of most of the tracks, and a few were really memorable. I'm quite happy to recommend this album.


Recommended: Yes