THE KICK INSIDE

Another great album that I bought when it was first released. It has been years since I heard it, but the other night I taped it off my friend's cd and gave it another spin. I still believe, after hearing all her other output over the years, that this is her finest moment, her strongest album. I remember when Wuthering Heights was first played on the radio; it was a thursday afternoon, towards tea time. The DJ said, after it had finished playing 'if that is a hit, I will eat my hat.' I would love to know if he did! This album is the perfect balance, IMO, between singularly attractive melodies and fascinating lyricism. Kate is in fine voice throughout, and the good thing here is that none of the tracks are overly long. I find her later albums, whilst good in parts, are very patchy and, at times, too experimental. They contain much material that doesn't remain in your mind for long. This album is different. Every track is catchy and, indeed, hummable, yet each track retains that special Bush atmosphere, with good if unobtrusive instrumentation and lovely piano work from the lady herself. I won't go into individual songs, but the highlights for me are 'Moving', 'Strange Phenomena', 'Kite', 'Wuthering Heights' (of course!), 'James And The Cold Gun', 'L'amour Looks Something Like You' and 'Room For The Life'. But every track is strong. As far as I am concerned, you only need two Kate Bush albums; this one and 'The Whole Story'. (The latter contains an even better version of Wuthering Heights, complete with improvised vocals at the end.) For me, she was never to quite scale these heights again. This is almost a bedsit album, but far superior in style and content. Wonderful, almost unique, ethereal stuff. If you want to hear her at her best, then get this. Four stars.