HOUNDS OF LOVE

Hounds of Love is the fifth album from Kate Bush and her last truly good album ( I haven´t listened enough to Aerial yet to make a judgement, so this comment doesn´t include that one). On Kate Bush previous album The Dreaming she experimented with the new possibilities that eighties synth gave her and she explored the possibilities in her vocal range. Hounds of Love is a bit more commercial while still maintaining the prog tendencies that has been present in her sound from the beginning. Hounds of Love has a very distinct sound. It´s a real eighties album. The drum sound is unmistakably something from the eighties and many of the synth sounds are definite eighties sounding too.

The music varies from uptempo pop songs like Running up that hill, The big sky and Cloudbusting to more quit and subtle songs like Mother stands for comfort, And dream of sheep and Hounds of love. There are also some more experiental songs here in Under ice and Waking the witch. Jig of life also stands out for having a folky celtic violin basis. Hounds of Love is a very melancholic album IMO and the mood is pretty sombre on most songs which is something I favour. Kate Bush has written many beautiful songs on her previous albums but some of the songs on Hounds of Love really move me. They are exceptionally beautiful.

The musicianship is as usual very good. Listen to the fretless bass playing in Mother stands for comfort. Just beautiful.

The production is surely an aquired taste as it is very eighties sounding. This might turn of some potential listeners, but personally I enjoy this sound as it makes Hounds of Love unique in Kate Bush discography.

I´ll recommend listening to the whole album a couple of times before dismissing it if you´re one of those who have a hard time with the eighties sound. The album has many different styles and moods that you won´t experience unless you give it time. To me this is another 4 star album from Kate Bush. It´s beautiful, it´s varied and most important great feelings are unfolded here and I´m perceptive. Hounds of Love is highly recommendable as is Kate Bush four previous albums The Kick Inside, Lionheart, Never For Ever and The Dreaming. Kate Bush creative peak lasted about 8 years which is a pretty long time for any artist to release essential albums. Unfortunately she didn´t follow Hounds of Love up with another excellent album and an era had ended.