A Marvelous Live Album

Depending on who you talk to, when Kate Bush’s name is mentioned, there’s likely to be one of a handful of reactions. Whether it’s enthusiasm, snickering or awe, the musician is bound to have garner a response. On her newest release (which really isn’t all that new) Before the Dawn, Bush explores some of her greatest hits and quiet masterpieces in a collection of some of her live performances from 2014.

This 29 track album is divided into three different “Acts” each one exploring a part of Bush’s personas and her discography. The album begins on an otherworldly note with her song “Lily,” complete with an old woman voice over which then transitions seamlessly into a funky guitar riff. Towards the end of the First Act, one of her greatest songs “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” a song that sounds so quintessentially ‘80s, is met with huge cheers from her crowd. A song that the younger generation usually associated with the band Placebo remains totally and perfectly with Bush. From the beginning, with its pop-y drum machine all the way until the deep, manipulated vocals at the end, the listener will be transfixed by Bush’s voice and lyrics, just like the song did to audiences in 1985. While her voice has slightly deepened over the years she still sings with exceptional clarity. The beginning of Act Two opens with “Astronomer’s Call,” a message that is spoken from Downton Abbey actor, Kevin Doyle. She then follows up “Dream of Sheep,” a quiet and beautiful track reminiscent of Leonard Cohen.

Similarly, to the other two Acts, the third and final Acts opens with another spoken word introduction. “Prelude” begins with the voice of a young child calling out to her parents while an airy piano lilts in the background. Songs like “Among Angels” and “Aerial Tal” continue with airy sounding music before the album finishes with the catchy and satisfying “Cloudbusting.”

One thing can be said of this record and for most of Bush’s music and that is that the themes of celestial space and our place within that is always at the forefront of the performer’s mind and work. Despite being in the industry and performing for almost forty years, she still constructs an enchanting ether and performs with sincerity and expertise.