AERIAL

This is an album that I resisted listening to for a long time--based upon my dislike of/disappointment in 1993's The Red Shoes. But then came 50 Words for Snow in 2011 and I was back in the fold and had to give Aerial a try. Boy am I sad I resisted! This is a beautiful, deeply engaging album--especially the second disc: sheer perfection!

Disc 1 - A Sea Of Honey :

1. "King Of The Mountain" (4:53) (8.5/10)

2. "Pi" (6:09) (8.5/10)

3. "Bertie" (4:18) (9/10)

4. "Mrs. Bartolozzi" (5:58) (8.5/10)

5. "How To Be Invisible" (5:32) (9/10)

6. "Joanni" (4:56) (8.75/10)

7. "A Coral Room" (6:12) (9/10)

Disc 2 - A Sky Of Honey :

8. "Prelude" (1:26) bird sound, piano, and a young boy's voice (Bertie?) dominate this beautiful little intro. (9/10)

9. "Prologue" (5:42) spacious, melodic, repetitive. yet so hypnotically engaging. I could nap into death's sleep to this one. (9.5/10)

10. "An Architect's Dream" (4:50) (9/10)

11. "The Painter's Link" (1:35) (9/10)

12. "Sunset" (5:58) (9.5/10)

13. "Aerial Tal" (1:01) (10/10)

14. "Somewhere In Between" (5:00) (10/10)

15. "Nocturn" (8:34) so hypnotic! Like a BLUE NILE song. (10/10)

16. "Aerial" (7:52) classic and superlative Kate! (11/10)

A/five stars; a masterpiece of progressive rock music.