Customer Reviews

The Sensual World

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I avoided this album for years. I finally listened to it and I "got" it. What a smooth, sensual and complex album. Sonically amazing, with its bagpipes, American Indian flutes, penny whistles, church bells, electronic washes and spooky lyrics. I really love it. This Woman's Work is one of the best songs ever written. This is a Kate Bush album for people who would be terrified by any of other other stuff. Mature, mellow and something that needs to be listen to as a whole album. Just let yourself absorb this album on a cold autumn night.

Length:: 1:43 Mins

I'm a relatively new fan of Kate's, having listened to her music for only a couple of years. A friend recommended her to me because I love Tori Amos and have since the late 90's. "The Sensual World" is the first album by Kate that I purchased and it's still my favorite. If I feel overly stressed or anxious, I immediately put this album on. It has an ethereal quality that is so soothing, but not enough to make me nod off. In fact, there is an energizing aspect to the album, but it's not overdone. My personal favorite tracks are "Never Be Mine", "Heads Were Dancing", and "This Woman's Work". This is a great album and I recommend it highly.

Four years after the successful masterwork "Hounds of Love", "The Sensual World" was finally released on Oct. 17, 1989. It reached #2 on the UK album chart, but left many fans less than impressed.

At the time, Kate Bush felt that it was her most personal and most honest album...which is reflected by most of the lyrics and subject matter. It is not as heavy on the Fairlight CMI as some of her previous records ("The Dreaming", "Hounds of Love"). Once again, Paddy Bush incorporates his foray of exotic and ancient instruments...including whips, the Valiha, the Mandolin, and the Tupan. Most of the tracks on "The Sensual World" have a worldly sound and amazing melody.

The album opens with church bells ringing in the distance, leading into the title track (which was the first single). It is a gorgeous song with a great beat and a heavy Celtic influence, incorporating the Uillean Pipes into the chorus. `Love and Anger' was the third and final single from the album, reaching #38 in the UK and #1 on the US Billboard Modern Rock chart (her only US chart-topper be it album or single). It took Kate Bush over a year and a half to finish, because she wasn't sure where the song was going. David Gilmour plays a strong guitar riff during the chorus. `The Fog' is an almost ethereal experience. The song starts with shared dialogue between Kate and her father. Soaring strings and a solo violin build and intensify as the tune carries. Before it's over, you can hear seagulls in the background. `Reaching Out' was thought up during a walk in the park and finished shortly after. It is a very powerful song with calm piano chords during the verses and a strong, thunderous beat with uplifting strings during the chorus. The weakest song on "The Sensual World" is `Heads Were Dancing'. It is a busy mid-paced song that never goes anywhere. `Deeper Understanding' is another interesting and powerful tune. It shows good use of the Fairlight CMI, and during the chorus, the Trio Bulgarka lend their beautifully haunting vocals. I am in love with the melody of this song. `Between A Man and A Woman' is a mid-tempo song soaked in emotional and instrumental tension. `Never Be Mine' is a great song with some Celtic tones due to the Uillean Pipes, and it is a passionate and yearning song also featuring the Trio Bulgarka. Another song with the Trio, `Rocket's Tail' is A capella midway through, then drums and bass kick off a Rock jam with David Gilmour playing a great guitar solo. The perfect and true closer of the album (on Vinyl format), `This Woman's Work' is an essential Kate Bush song. A simple tune with piano, minimal Fairlight CMI, and strings...it is one of the reasons why human beings produce tears. "The Sensual World" was released in CD format with a bonus track titled `Walk Straight Down the Middle' (a great song), which takes away from the magic of ending the album with `This Woman's Work'. I usually stop the CD beforehand.

"The Sensual World" is a diverse, yet cohesive listen. Underrated by some, but should be loved and respected as a near-perfect treat from Kate Bush. Definitely one of her best!

4 ½ stars!

Sensual World has always been a bit fatiguing on CD to my ears, so I was excited to learn Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray mastered this beautiful work of art for the vinyl format. And as expected, they delivered in top form. Drums have more punch, reverb tails are clear and clean, and as I'd hoped, with a little midrange EQ adjustment, I could truly enjoy Kate's wonderful work at last. The vinyl itself is of the highest quality, having very low noise. The cover photo is as captivating as ever. Lyrics are printed inside the gatefold. The cover has a nice high gloss finish. Definitely a winner for the audiophile Kate Bush fan. If you're not interested in the Director's Cut box set, then I recommend you get one of these before they disappear!

For years, people have been telling me to listen to Kate Bush since I was/still am a fan of Tori Amos. After my publisher said the same thing to me a while ago, I finally caved in and purchased The Sensual World. Wow, what music! Now I see why Kate Bush was the one who started it all; her voice is pure, almost Elven, while her words literally flow right through you. Every song affected me in a different way and when I listened to it again, others will come out of me. So far, my favourite songs on the CD are The Sensual World and Love and Anger but I am sure I will change my mind and love others just as much. Kate Bush was way ahead of her time and I am glad to finally make her acquaintance. If you enjoy listening to music that is not mainstream and actually has emotion and feeling behind it, then do yourself a favour and introduce yourself to the world of Kate Bush. You will not want to leave!

This cd is superb. The baltic/gypsy influence blend perfectly with her victorian england lush romanticism.

I hate long winded reviews here but this cd is precious. Do yourself a favor and make the splurge and own the most extradordinary piede of art.

Kate Bush is a pure soprano with a very distinct sound. Very British. This cd full of strings -- cellos, bazukis, violins, celtic harps, mandolins -- and percussion. There are whips and whistles and uilean pipes. The Trio Bulgarka add an exotic flavor to the background vocals. The lyrics are poetry.

Love, love, love...Kate Bush really is sooo magical on this CD. Every song is different. I love her emotion and cadence. Fog is so dreamlike and intense. How can you NOT buy this CD for JUST $6.99???!! Give yourself a wonderful musical gift and BUY IT"0)

This is one of the few CDs from the old days that I still listen to on occasion. If you enjoy So Tonight That I Might See and other musicians with that swirly, dreamy sound then this CD is a must have! I think it's Kate's finest work, especially vocally. Sensual World was way before it's time or maybe its the rare timeless CD. If you like Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell or Tori Amos then you must add this one to your collection. If Kate Bush is new to you and you're wondering which CD to buy, I urge you to buy this one, you can't go wrong. I have the old CD and am buying the new one since the samples here on Amazon sound so much cleaner and clearer.