Lionheart

by

Kate Bush

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I think this album is a bit underrated since everybody is always so wild about Hounds Of Love. "Lionheart" is Kate Bush at her best.

This album is lush and sensual and in a way deliciously 70-ies with its weird cover photography and instrumentation.

A warm record to cherish and keep a secret and listen to in the darker and colder part of the year (for that specific reason the album's overall atmosphere strangely reminds me of Bjork's "Vespertine")

It doesn't suffer the somewhat hysterical overproduction of later work such as "The Dreaming", "The Sensual World" and "The Red Shoes" (although it loses one star because of "Coffee Homeground", which in its silliness should've been on "Never For Ever".)

On Lionheart the melodies and choruses are richly beautiful ("Fullhouse", "Symphony in Blue") and songs like "In Search Of Peter Pan and especially "Oh England My Lionheart" have that typical Romantic-Kate-Bush-Old-English-Roses-And-Nursery-Fairytale-Feel that is so unique (and pretty hard to describe..)

That Feel of secrets in the garden and whispers in your sleep.

The smell of coffee and dusty attics and female eroticism...

Kate Bush's "Lionheart" is, in many ways, a disappointing follow-up to the brilliant "The Kick Inside". Lionheart's song structures are not at all progressive of TKI's songs: many of them follow a set formula and are somewhat predictable (as opposed to the innovative TKI), the lyrics are embarassing, and the overall production seems rushed.

However, this is not to say that this is a bad album. "Lionheart" remains perhaps her most 'whimsical' album, with songs about Peter Pan, poisoners, exotic arabs, showbiz, and a beautiful homage to the fantastical England of childhood. The cover, to me, perfectly captures this whimsical strain of the album.

The point I am making is that although "Lionheart" is a good album, it pales in comparison to Kate's other albums, and seems the 'odd one out' in that it doesn't seem evident of any progression in her undeniable talent as a songwriter and musician. This progression isn't evident until "The Dreaming" (although aspects of "Never For Ever" are an exception).

Having said that, it should be pointed out that "Lionheart" was written and recorded in two months (or so I am told) at the instigation of her record company to capitalise on the success of TKI. Bearing this in mind, "Lionheart" is a remarkable achievement.

Standout tracks: "Wow", "Oh England My Lionheart" and "Coffee Homeground".