50 WORDS FOR SNOW

The inimitable Kate Bush continues to produce quality music and this concept album is no exception to her usual high calibre vocal performance. She exudes a beauty unmeasured by female artists. The high octave range is mesmirising and the music ranges from minimalist piano to orchestrations. This is a very measured album that meanders along slowly and patiently. Kate sounds reflective and melancholy throughout with only the occasional percussion tempo or rock feel. I believe this is perhaps her most personal album encapsulating a sense of isolation or loneliness and yet not morbid. It will speak to many listeners who are feeling likewise.

I think it is also an uplifting album as Kate's voice is so compelling and entrancing in its beauty. Her son Bertie has a stint on vocals with 'Snowflake' and reminds one of the type of music found on her masterful "Aerial". It begins with minimalist piano, very pretty but sombre. The vocals are melancholy and reflective with some achingly gorgeous inflections from the princess of prog. Elton John appears on 'Snowed In At Wheeler Street' which is a pleasant surprise. Stephen Fry's recognisable voice is the narrative force on '50 Words For Snow' and he spars off with Kate in a humorous banter. The single on the album is 'Wild Man' that stands out as perhaps the most listenable for non- Kate Bush fans. It all culminates in a dreamy closing track. I enjoyed listening to this album in a relaxing frame of mind as it is easy on the ears and tantalisingly beautiful. I think it is a genuine return for the legendary Kate Bush and would sound fantastic in a live performance.

Kate Bush's "50 Words For Snow" is a return for the prog diva and I have always been enamoured with her style, the way she evokes passion and power with incredible high octave range and theatrical performances. This album is no exception and in fact one of her proggiest releases along with the astonishing "Aerial". In this same year of 2011 Bush also released "The Director's Cut" that was an album full of remixed, re-edited and upgraded versions of songs from "The Sensual World" and "The Red Shoes". But her latest album is 7 all new songs encompassing some of her most beautiful reflections. The tracklisting demonstrates the way Bush has developed over the years, producing an album with very lengthy conceptual songs and some incredible vocals.

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