Hello Earth! (The Music Of Kate Bush)

Theo Bleckmann | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: March 13, 2012
• Label: Winter & Winter GmbH
• Copyright: 2011 Winter & Winter GmbH
• Total Length: 1:00:22
• Genres:
  • Jazz
  • Pop
• ASIN: B006JVMBAG
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,090 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and beautiful interpretations March 31, 2012

By G. A. Skala

Format:Audio CD

Covering Kate Bush takes a vocalist not only as deft and talented as Theo Bleckmann. It also takes one who's able to separate the idiosyncratic songs from the idiosyncratic songwriter. And then, as if that formidable task wasn't enough, then make it his own. Point in case, Bleckmann daringly opens Hello Earth!: The Music of Kate Bush, with the yardstick surely the project will be judged, "Running Up That Hill". Despite it sounding suspiciously similar to Kiki & Herb's jazzy-piano take from 2004 "Will Die For You" (like that's a bad thing?), Bleckmann tempers his inner diva and instead of Kiki-esque drama, he unearths a deep melancholy previously obscured on Bush's original. With the exception of the punk-ish "Violin", the songs' original rock values are neutralized with quieter and muted jazz shadings.

Overall, his golden-toned, often lovely, and sometimes even heartrending singing alone manages to deconstruct the songs with imagination and playfulness. Bleckmann's versions rarely quote, and are seldom recognizable from the originals.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I just took a trip on my love for him May 2, 2012

By Douglas Stapleton

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a wonderful album that accomplishes what few 'tribute' projects come close to mustering; thoughtful, inspired interpretations of existing songs. Bleckmann doesn't reinvent Bush's songs. He has a wonderful sense of what makes the music tick, and with his musicians, finds a different coloring and shading to the music--something usually quieter, with a deeper burnish and space. It's Kate's music grown up. No more dancing on the piano in a leotard!

I remember seeing Kate Bush on SNL when I was in High School, and was easily entranced by her drama and fireworks. The question is how does the music hold up after 30 years? Does Kate or my teen-driven fantasy still hold some truth when middle age takes hold or do we have to suffice with the guilty pleasures of nostalgia? No worries now. Bleckmann's Saxophone Song -/Never see that you had all of me/ - and The Man with the Child in His Eyes (with that great 70's electric piano- Melissa Manchester eat your heart out!) are newly relevant. The more recent songs- especially the last three - Watching You Without Me, Love and Anger, This Woman's Work- are just brilliant.

Bleckmann has an outstanding group of musicians working with him as well--richly nuanced and shimmery--perfect match for Bleckmann's own accomplished voice.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treat December 20, 2012

By J. Miller

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

HIs voice is mesmerizing and his phrasing creative and seductive. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a voice instrument as much as I am enjoying Theo's.