In between the release of the Sensual World and this album, Kate had lost some people very close to her heart. Her mother Hannah, Alan 'Smurf' Murphy, her guitarist died of AIDS, Gary Hurst, one of the dancers she had worked with. Kate's lengthy relationship with Del Palmer broke down and so we find reflections of this loss and personal heartache echoed throughout the album. On the other hand, there are a two beautifully bright and colourful tracks on the album 'Rubberband girl' and 'Eat the music' but the overwhelming focus tends to be leaning more to the sadder side of things... and I see that as only natural really.
Sadly for us, The Red Shoes was Kate's last released album and was recorded an astonishing eleven years ago to the day. When artists do this, you can't help but wonder how you can make such a superb album and not follow it up at least within a year or two, but Kate's personal life, from what I have been told, took priority with the birth of her son Bertie and the craft of being a parent.
Kate Bush has, without doubt, been a major influence and inspiration to artists that include Jewel, Bjork, Jann Arden, Toyah, Sarah MacLaughlan, Tori Amos (in particular), and numerous others. It's hardly surprising.. her albums from The Kick Inside onwards have each been monumental works written and composed by a monumentally skilled artist. The Red Shoes is no exception.. downswings in mood on this album are cast aside by her sheer brilliance and mastery of her art, and of her innovation and genius as a contemporary singer, songwriter, producer.
The album opens with Rubberband Girl, and it's upbeat and clever dance themes and unbelievably accomplished chorus. It is an incredible piece of work from a girl who seems to expand time between albums to make absolutely certain that her music maintains it's pure magic... just like a rubberband girl! The lyrics are very Kate at her infectiously innovative best. Released as a hit single, the accompanying video is absolute eye candy, and both the song and video make you wanna dance like you may never have danced before!
And So Is Love features Eric Clapton on guitar and is perhaps one of the most melancholic views of love that Kate's written to date. Direct and striaght to the point, the lyrics point to exactly how powerful love can be both in a positive sense and in an undeniably negative sense too. You get the impresson that the girl has gone through what most of us would rather not want to think about in the breakdown of a relationship. Musically, the song is an absolute masterpiece with breeze-like percussion and intermittent guitar phrases designed to reach out to the depths of your soul. The almost whispy vocal supports the song perfectly but it's an unsettling song nevertheless '..but now we see that life is sad.. and so is love.'
Eat the Music is a startlingly refreshing upbeat track with lyrics that can be either peceived as 'out there' and abstract, or the work of an absolute genius of a songwriter... the comparisons between fruit and music set into a latin Tijuana style arrangement are a first in their uniqueness but then the same could be said for almost every song the girl has ever written since she was a teenager!
Moments of Pleasure is a classic of immense proportion. Lyrics that go like '.. Just being alive... it can really hurt...' coupled with the incredibly skilled way that Kate handles the vocals, just makes ya wanna cry! The final refrain where she cites and remembers those she has lost is particularly sad. Either way, moments of pleasure is an absolute masterpiece and one of the best songs Kate's ever written.
Song of Solomon also features the Trio Bulgarka, and is another of Kate's love angst offerings for the album but then who could blame her for including such a personalized realization of what it is to fall out of love. Kate's piano work is exceptionally well rendered, but then it always has been nothing less than exceptional throughout her career. Solomon is followed by Lily which features one of the best arrangements on the album, particularly with regard to the chorus and guitar and percussion elements.
The Red Shoes is inspired by the film of the same name and is an absolutely incredible piece of music and production. Interestingly, there are little hints in the synthesiser work of what would come a couple of years later from Madonna on her 'Ray of light' album... well I think there is anyway! Red shoes is a superb accomplishment particularly when one considers the build up in percussion and flutes... but the story being spread around through the lyrics is especially spellbinding. Top of the City turns things back to the romantic beauty in Kate's music with her mastery of vocals and lyrics and totally unpredictable arranagements.... stuff that keeps Kate at a massive distance from many of her contemporaries. The more funky arrangements in Constellation of the Heart are quite reminiscent of preceding 80s productions but the vocal and choral arrangements are what brings the song straight back into the nineties. It's a very clever production technique indeed and it works perfectly here in a way that firmly establishes Kate as an exceptionally talented record producer in addition to her undeniable talents as an artist.
Big Stripey Lie features Kate on guitar and bass, and the immensely gifted Nigel Kennedy on violin. It's pure brilliance in every way imaginable and yet for Kate fans, it was one of the hardest to get used to. Its one of those songs that takes a few hearings to sink in and when it does... you are eternally grateful! What follows Big Stripey Lie is Kate's collaboration with Prince in what turned out to be Why Should I Love You? - which also has one of the most original openings ever conceived of in a funky little Prince-esque pop song.
The album closes with You're the One, a beautiful and exceptionally sincere ballad about that unbearable and often desperate heartbreak that occurs at the end of a relationship. The vocals are absolutely beautiful and often heart rendering regardless of the number of times you play the track. The lyrics actually pierce your heart as you descend into Kate's world with total empathy. Supporting artists include Gary Brooker on the Hammond organ, Trio Bulgarka with backing vocals, and Jeff Beck, who takes the classic guitar bits to a completely and previously undiscovered dimenson.
The gap in recording between The Sensual World and The Red Shoes may well be unforgivable for some, but the fact that this album was released exactly 11 years ago to the day and we have had nothing since, tells me that Kate is enjoying life away from the music biz, but it also tells me that we should... hopefully, be hearing from her at some point that will be very very special indeed!
