HAMMER HORROR / COFFEE HOMEGROUND

I love this album cover. Iconic, with her (lovely) massive Lionheart mane. Much like "Full House", "Hammer Horror" is a pretty great example of her steady departure from her singer-songwriter material and ballads into the Art Pop of Never for Ever and The Dreaming. Where it is similar to some of the material off of The Kick Inside is its Rock-oriented chorus, an interesting juxtaposition to the moody piano balladry of the verses and the dancey, upbeat lilt of the pre-chorus. Interesting music video, too, with this trailing visual effect as she enters the screen in one scene and propellers and flaps her arms about in most others. Also there's quite intimate dancing with a rare(?) partner here.

Its B-side is quite the unique Kate track: "Coffee Homeground". This is a silly, classically-oriented track, like something out of Tschaikovsky's The Nutcracker, maybe? She also sings with a (French?) accent in the verses. And the pre-chorus features her signature dramatic soprano. Big quirk. Not much else to say on it haha.