HOUNDS OF LOVE

It's very difficult to write a review on your favourite album by one of your ever favourite artists... But I must try. Kate has signed some of the most beautiful pages in rock music, and, above all, she has done it in a period when music wasn't offering that much. "Hounds of Love" is the work where she displayed her own personality; therefore, not her most ambitious one, neither a perfect one, but the pure reflection of a genius's soul, and therefore one of the most beautiful jewels you can put your ears to. "Running up that hill" is pop, of course, but also something incredible personal: just imagine that its whole evolving structure, full in rhythm and intensity, comes out of a single chord which, as a backbone, runs through the whole song. The title track has got almost a punk-rock approach (and indeed the Futureheads have understood this) filtered through Kate's interest in world music... the result is a passionate and lively track which sticks to your ears and make you want to move and shake. The same fusion of world music and straight rock animates also "Big Time", Kate's hymn to life and its power. The following two pieces are almost unbelievable: "Mother stands for comfort" is a real forerunner, something Bjork and other ones can only dream of, with those haunting piano and synths, steady drums, unexpected percussions and Kate's unusual lyrics (this time telling us the thoughts of a murderer looking for protection in his - or her - mother's arms). "Cloudbursting" is the equivalent to Ravel's Bolero in prog rock - and it's a quite moving pieces, rich in atmosphere and pathos. The subsequent concept "The ninth wave" features incredible pieces: the heavenly "And dream of sheep", the mysterious "Under ice"; "Waking the witch" really gives me the goosebumps, expecially its piano driven first section with that vocal layers... WOW (just to quote another Kate's song). "Hello Earth" is the missing piece in Pink Floyd's production, and yet, IMO, more intense and intriguing, while the closing piece "Morning Fog" sometimes can almost move me to tears... I really whish the whole world could listen to this masterpiece.