Kate Bush taught me how to fly.
Kate Bush has released a new collection of old songs called "Director's Cut" featuring reworked material from "The Sensual World" and "The Red Shoes." Although the material might be familiar on the surface, Kate has changed enough for each song to feel new. I get the impression that these songs have been haunting her... as though she has had them all in the back of her mind, going over all the things she felt were weaknesses, reimagining them, making them over, rescuing them in a way...
A song that received a very big makeover is the title track for "The Sensual World." Kate originally intended the song to be a literal musical version of Molly Bloom's final monologue from "Ulysses" by James Joyce but the estate of Joyce would not give her permission to use the text when the song was first recorded. Seems the estate has had a change of heart and now Kate has recorded the song--renamed "Flower Of The Mountain"--as she originally intended for it to be heard: with Joyce's own words, not her approximation.
Unexpectedly (to me at least), this release seems to have polarized her fan base somewhat. Many claim that there was no need to reinvent these songs, that she has slowed them down too much, that her voice is now too low, etc. I personally find it interesting to hear what she chose to change. It is an insight into her musical process. And one must certainly allow for artists to grow and change, as we all do.
Also of note is the launch of Kate's very own record label, Fish People, a division of EMI who have a long relationship with Kate. And her official website has been re-tooled to reflect this new label.
For those familiar with the original, take a listen to this new version of "Deeper Understanding" (this is the official still video from her newly launched YouTube channel) which features Kate's son Bertie as the computer voice. And if you are not familiar with it, well, enjoy...
And please take a look at her revamped site. When you go to it, there is a fantastic, short intro that is a montage of scenes from her videos over the years including clips from "The Line, The Cross, The Curve" with Miranda Richardson and "Cloudbusting" with Donald Sutherland.
http://www.katebush.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/KateBushMusic?feature=chclk
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