Sever Four Levers

Overall Album Score: 9.5 out of 10

Kate Bush discovers world music here thanks to her new friend Peter Gabriel. However, it's only found in a few tracks during the first half of the album. Yet, they manage to be some of her most engaging works! That's not meant to discredit her more Europeanized music on this album. There's diversity on here, but this is also an incredibly even album.

Largely, Never For Ever saw Kate's shift to a more lushly produced and more melodic direction. Her debut album, The Kick Inside was aimed predominantly at being dramatic than strictly musical and, more interestingly, her voice was used as the predominant musical instrument. Her sophomore album, Lionheart, saw more of a shift to relying more on instrumentation. Never For Ever we see an almost full shift! Every one of these songs are gloriously produced with thick, illustrious and enchanting instrumentation, all of which use classical or traditional instruments as well as synthesizers. All of these songs are brilliantly arranged! (And make no mistake about Kate Bush's genius. She produced this album herself!)

"Babooshka" is easily the most well-known song from the album and was one of Bush's biggest chart successes in the UK (though not nearly as successful as "Wuthering Heights"). Although, that song is mightily enchanting and endearing, other songs of the album manage to either top that one or, at least, equal it. The less dynamic but features an incredible siren-like vocal performance "Delius (Song of Summer)" is incredibly affecting. "Egypt" is probably the best in terms of conveying a true world-music mentality (obviously capitalizing on Egyptian music)! "Army Dreamers" is a very short song, but it's an enchanting waltz that you'll savor forever! The final song on here, "Breathing" is such an incredibly superb and dynamic song. It just doesn't go wrong.

Oh, I know I'm sounding like an infomercial, but heck, when I feel an album actually deserves my critical praise then I'll give it duly. That's what this whole 'reviewing' thing is all about. SO THERE!!!!!!!

Overall Album Score: 9.5 out of 10 (This is a magical album that deserves all the praise it can get! The material is exquisite and Kate Bush is a goddess.)

Average Song Score: 9.6 (If everyone could write and perform such solidly fantastic songs, then ... I'll probably die from having too much of a good thing. There's nothing in this album that even *pretends* like it's going to suck.)

Album Tilt: 9.5 (Where has Kate Bush been all my life? This is a mysterious album that you simply cannot live another moment of your life without having listened to it.)

Artist Rating: 9.5 (Not only are these songs meticulously and delicately constructed, but this is a totally new direction for Kate Bush! She deserves *a lot* of artistic kudos.)

Track Reviews

Babooshka 10/10

Musically and lyrically tied to Russia, proved to be one of Kate Bush's most durable hits. (It charted at #5 in the UK, but nothing in the US.) The song is marvellously and flawlessly produced. It's appropriately thoughtful and it's upbeat for its chorus. The melody is surely among Kate's best and hookiest. Yes, this is a good song, and a fantastic way to open the album!

Delius (Song of Summer) 10/10

This doesn't have single potential quality, but it's a perfect album song. The song has a nice, steady beat and a thickly produced atmosphere. It consists of a chorus of men singing something in not-English. The instrumentation is mostly piano, a sitar, and an occasional synthesizer. Kate's singing (especially toward the end) sounds like what I'd imagine the sirens sing in Homer's The Odyssey. It's a more low-profile song, but it's gorgeous!

Blow Away (For Bill) 9/10

(Nothing to do with Quentin Tarentino.) This is closer to the extreme theatricality that was rampant in her debut album. It's lovely, of course, but it's not nearly as gorgeous as the stellar two opening tracks. The instrumentation plays more on its dramatics than for sheer aesthetic value. It's still extremely aesthetically pleasing, though. Bush's literate, smart music is, as always, appealing here.

All We Ever Look For 9.5/10

This song contains a potentially annoying whistle-synthesizer in it, but it turns out to have been awesome anyway. It gives the song an interesting character! The rest of the song is even better as it contains loudly-mixed pizzacato strings and a harpsichord (or something like that). The song is tremendously dramatic, but it is also extremely hook-filled and was brilliantly inspired but not wholly based on Eastern music. Its primary purpose is not supposed to be aesthetically mediative or (in particular) pleasant, but it manges to be that and more. This is why, o world, Kate Bush is such a brilliant musician.

Egypt 10/10

As the title would suggest, this about Egypt and has very strong Middle East leanings. This song, in particular, happens to be incredibly beautiful and remarkably engaging. The instrumentation is very dazzling but it doesn't fall into its own glitz and glamour. The melody is perfect. This song is both unique and freakishly mesmerizing. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Kate Bush rules.

Wedding List 9.5/10

Another wholly unique song, this seems to draw closer to her English background than any sort of world music tie! (Although, I can never be sure what influences this song drew from, which is one of the major reasons I'm so entranced with Kate Bush.) The melody is one of Kate Bush's catchiest. The instrumentation is bold, and Bush gives one of her more lively and upbeat vocal performances. The ending of this is particularly memorable! The song suddenly dies and she gives a light shriek!

Violin 9.5/10

Hey! This song contains a brilliant violin! The overall song is about as heavy metal as we'll ever get from Kate Bush. (Although, seriously, if only heavy metal musicians could make music like this!!) Bush's vocal performance consists of a lot of crazy shrieks (could be annoying for some listeners, but I happen to like it). The feeling of the song is very violent (and includes a very awesome electric guitar solo), it manages to keep Bush's pixie-like personality and it's produced marvellously well.

Infant Kiss 9/10

This is boring compared to "Violin," so it's easy for me to give it the cold shoulder, but how can I dislike a song such as this? Drawing from classical music of the Romantic Era, this three-minute song is deep, profound and dramatic. The melody isn't hookfilled, but it's wholly appropriate (this is a song that captures your attention predominantly through its dramatics and not vocal hooks) and the instrumentation again is thickly layered and fantastic.

Night Scented Kiss 9.5/10

This is less than one minute long and is an a cappella vocal piece comprised of Bush's alluring voice! Amazing that she proves to be alluring without using the thick instrumentation.

Army Dreamers 10/10

Whoah! This is an enchanted waltz! It's not even three minutes long, and I want it to last forever. The melody is gorgeous, the instrumentation is incredibly dazzling (expertly combining Baroque era instrumentals with modern synthesized instruments) and, naturally, Bush's high-pitched voice provides the perfect singing for it!

Breathing 10/10

So thundering and effective, this track brings the album to a breath-taking closer. The melody is a primary component of the song (which, yes, makes this an incredibly accessible song). It sounds like it could have found a place on the radio, but it was probably too dramatic and bizarre for it! Just the same, whoah, what a fantastic album closer! Even the eerie part in the middle of it consisting of spooky instrumentals and some dialogue in the background sounded perfect for the song. It's not aesthetically pleasant, but it sure is affecting.

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