Review of _TSW_ in the _Pittsburgh Press_

[ed@das.llnl.gov (Edward Suranyi)]

Today I discovered the following review of _The Sensual World_. It
appeared in the Nov. 19, 1989 issue of the  _Pittsburgh Press_.

Kate Bush sends 'Sensual World' into orbit
By Peter B. King

"The Sensual World," Kate Bush. Columbia
     Imagine heat lightning shooting from your speakers, and you get some
idea of the effect of one listen to the title track of Kate Bush's new
album.  Like Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" or Bruce Hornsby's "On the
Western Skyline," "The Sensual World" has a rare immediacy.
     Over Davey Spillane's wailing uillean pipes and a racing high-tech
rhythm track, Bush trills a lush, shimmering ode to the senses based on
James Joyce.
     If nothing else, you'll have to agree her repeated "Oh yes" -- sung
in a breathless vibrato quicker than a hummingbird's wings -- is the
sexiest pop song utterance in years.
     By comparison, the rest of "The Sensual World" is merely excellent.
The songs are passionate, intelligent and mysterious.
     The slightly ambiguous subject matter focuses on men and women.  Bush
has been called arty and precious, but the toughness of her sentiments
belies those labels.
     Musically, Bush has a knack for melodic, funky, organic blends of
electronic gear with exotic world-music touches such as the bouzouki and
Bulgarian folk singers.
     Comparisons?  Peter Gabriel will put you in the ballpark, I suppose.
(British, electronics, world music, etc.)
     In her own style, Bush's singing conveys the depth and utter
conviction of, say, Joni Mitchell or Chrissie Hynde.
     Only one song -- "This Woman's Work" -- sounds ordinary.  But also
on the down side, Bush's penchant for packing the sonic gallery gets in
the way a little.  The arrangements are occasionally too busy.
     Nevertheless, "The Sensual World" is a palpable garden of earthly
delights.
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Ed
ed@das.llnl.gov