The Sensual World

Simply glorious!

All I know before listening is I like when she runs up that hill Holy fuck this shit got me levitating bro I gotta listen to more Kate Bush. This is music

So far, just as epic if not even more than Hounds of Love? I may edit when I have more detailed thoughts but it just sounds immediately epic, catch, beautiful, and uniquely her. This is the only woman who can talk about installing a program on her computer and make it engaging in song.

Pretty good and interesting pop.

kate Bush does it again with this one

Beautiful work Kate

It’s awesome. One of my favourite albums.

The denim vest is really what stood out. I don't ever remember seeing anyone wear a denim vest in my high school of 3000 people. A new kid in school recently relocated from Kentucky. His dad had just been relocated the help the ailing JC Penny's in Atlanta. Seems they were the supplier of said vest. Matt and I shared an english class. And eventually a lot more than that. But without a doubt the most lasting influence was the shared love of Kate Bush. Or as we knew her - Kate. Is still find some of her more esoteric moments confounding (I'm looking at you Lionheart). But when she hits - wow does she hit. I am a pop smith romantic at heart and this album is all her talents on full display. I cant really review this album. It just is for me. I feel like a rag doll it here capable hands. Tossed and twisted at her whim. And I gladly give myself over. Adult emotions writ large. Takes me back and makes me glad I lived those days. Kate/Matt - thank you.

Man I can’t believe I hadn’t listened to any Kate Bush albums until doing this list. I’ve been missing out. More straightforward than ‘Hounds of Love’ but still loaded with great melodies, sonic ideas, and production (percussion in particular, holy smokes). Bush is a one-of-one songwriter with a singular, expressive, joyful voice.

Fantastische Stimme, fantastisches Album, das an keiner Stelle langweilig wird.

It is 100% a byproduct of me being 450 albums in, and I know I sound like an asshole for saying it, I wish there was a lot more avant-garde pop like this. This may be the most ambitious pop album I've ever heard. This album is firing on all cylinders from start to finish. Kate Bush is singing her god damn lungs out the entire time. We deserve for all our pop music to be as innovative and as beautiful as this.

Like all great original artists, it takes a little while to get into their world. But when it clicks, you realise what a superb raw talent some individuals have. Kate Bush's best music always seems to have a touch of magic, mystistim and exotica with rich classical overtones. Truly spellbinding.

This is luxury music. Kate Bush is the only popular musician I can think of who I legitimately wish I was best friends with.

Love Kate!

Actually a perfect title for the album's vibe, Kate's voice is immaculate

Never heard this album but knew in general what to expect from Kate Bush it's a gem, loved it

i really liked this !!! first kate bush album i've heard and i will 100% listen to more because holy shit that was real good! genuinely like insane songwriting on here wdym there's a song about dancing with hitler and also she predicted people dating chatgpt ?!?! i love all the sounds she uses in the songs like she wasn't afraid to get a little weird with it

I mean I already knew she was a genius, how much more confirmation did I need

I guess this is my third five-star review for Kate Bush. Some great songs on here; as well as the title track and This Woman's Work, I liked Love and Anger and Deeper Understanding a lot. I love the bass sound on this album.

Between this album and Hounds of Love, Kate Bush was on another level in her prime.

Fantastic, wood witch version

interesting

Phenomenal

Arguably Kate Bush's second best album after 'Hounds of Love', this album captures a profound longing for human connection and intimacy. Lyrically, the songs are imaginative and prescient, conjuring unexpected scenarios like encountering Hitler at a club or exploring online love before digital dating was comprehensible. Revisiting the album, I'm struck by how well the songs have aged—tracks I once skipped now reveal new depths of meaning, demonstrating the album's enduring artistic power. Standout track: Never Be Mine

More majesty and wonder from Kate Bush. A bit more restrained on the first half and then she lets loose.

Nice soul singer. Also appeared to have song the original mockingbird.

Each Kate Bush album is an artistic experience. I wasn’t familiar with this one, but it’s no exception. A bit more adult in theme and sometimes wearied and even cynical in message, this is fantastic art pop that stands just a hair below the quality of her very best work, which makes it an absolutely terrific album.

An epic. So good. Rocket's Tail is one I hadn't heard before and absolutely loved.

## In-Depth Review: *The Sensual World* by Kate Bush Kate Bush’s sixth studio album, *The Sensual World* (1989), stands as a pivotal work in her discography. It bridges her experimental, literary past with a new maturity and emotional depth, all while expanding her musical palette. Below is a comprehensive exploration of the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** Bush’s lyricism on *The Sensual World* is both intimate and expansive. The album opens with the title track, inspired by Molly Bloom’s soliloquy from James Joyce’s *Ulysses*. Although Bush was denied the rights to use Joyce’s text, she crafted lyrics that evoke the same breathless sensuality and celebration of the senses, with imagery of “peaches, mountain flowers, seed-cake,” and a recurring, erotically charged “Yes”[1][3]. This track sets the tone for the album, where sensuality is explored not just as sexuality but as a broader engagement with the world. The album’s songs are structured as vignettes, each offering a glimpse into different lives and emotional states. Unlike her previous work, which often focused on grand, fantastical narratives, *The Sensual World* grounds its stories in more ordinary, relatable experiences, though still colored by Bush’s vivid imagination[1][3]. For example: - **“Heads We’re Dancing”**: Tells of a woman who discovers she’s been dancing with Adolf Hitler, inspired by a real-life anecdote about Robert Oppenheimer. The song becomes a meditation on judgment, trust, and the darkness that can lurk beneath charm[1][3][4]. - **“Deeper Understanding”**: Explores the relationship between humans and technology, presciently depicting a character who finds solace in their computer—a theme that has only grown more relevant[1][4]. - **“This Woman’s Work”**: Perhaps the album’s emotional centerpiece, it captures the vulnerability and power of human relationships, originally written for the film *She’s Having a Baby* and later becoming one of Bush’s most iconic songs[1]. Bush’s lyrics throughout the album are emotionally raw, inventive, and layered with meaning. She uses nature as a recurring motif, drawing parallels between human longing and the natural world, as in “Reaching Out,” where a sunflower’s stretch towards light becomes a metaphor for unfulfilled desire[3]. --- ## **Music** Musically, *The Sensual World* is lush, eclectic, and deeply textured. The album retains Bush’s art rock sensibilities but is distinguished by several unique elements: - **Celtic and Eastern European Influences**: The use of Irish folk instruments (notably Davey Spillane’s uilleann pipes) and the Bulgarian vocal ensemble Trio Bulgarka adds a distinctive color to the album. These elements are woven seamlessly into tracks like the title song and “Deeper Understanding,” providing an organic counterpoint to Bush’s technological experimentation[1][3][4]. - **Fairlight CMI Synthesizer**: Bush continues her pioneering use of the Fairlight digital sampler, though in a more restrained manner than on previous albums. The result is a sound that is at once modern and earthy, with electronic textures supporting rather than dominating the arrangements[1][2]. - **Guitar Work**: David Gilmour’s contributions, especially on “Love and Anger,” bring a soaring, emotional quality that complements Bush’s vocals[1][4]. - **Vocal Arrangements**: Bush’s voice is as expressive as ever, ranging from whispery intimacy to powerful, almost operatic wails. The inclusion of Trio Bulgarka on several tracks adds a rich harmonic layer, enhancing the album’s sense of feminine presence and cross-cultural dialogue[1][4]. The album’s production is dense and layered, with each track offering a unique sonic landscape. From the cinematic strings of “The Fog” to the bombastic, Eastern-inflected “Rocket’s Tail,” Bush demonstrates her ability to blend disparate influences into a cohesive whole[4]. --- ## **Production** Bush produced *The Sensual World* herself, a testament to her growing confidence and control in the studio. The album’s sound is characterized by: - **Lushness and Complexity**: Multiple layers of instrumentation and vocals create a sweeping, immersive experience. The arrangements are sophisticated, with careful attention to detail in every track[4]. - **Balance of Organic and Synthetic**: The interplay between traditional instruments and digital technology is a hallmark of the album. While some critics have noted a certain “coldness” in the original CD mastering, remastered editions have addressed this, allowing the album’s warmth and nuance to shine through[2]. - **Dynamic Range**: The album moves fluidly between moments of intimacy and grandeur, with Bush’s production choices serving the emotional arc of each song[4]. Despite the album’s complexity, Bush avoids self-indulgence, maintaining a sense of focus and momentum throughout[4]. --- ## **Themes** *The Sensual World* is unified by its exploration of passion, sensuality, and the complexities of human connection. Key themes include: - **Feminine Sensuality**: Bush embraces a more overtly feminine perspective, expressing sensuality on her own terms rather than as a marketing tool[1][3]. The album is often described as her “feminine” work, with a focus on emotional maturity and self-discovery[2]. - **Nature and Humanity**: The natural world is both a source of inspiration and a metaphor for human experience. Bush draws connections between the rhythms of nature and the patterns of human emotion[3]. - **Technology and Isolation**: “Deeper Understanding” anticipates the digital age’s impact on relationships, exploring the paradox of increased connectivity and emotional isolation[1][4]. - **Moral Ambiguity**: Songs like “Heads We’re Dancing” challenge the listener to confront uncomfortable truths about judgment and complicity, subverting expectations about the nature of passion and evil[1][3]. Bush’s willingness to tackle complex, sometimes unsettling subjects sets the album apart from more conventional pop records of its era. --- ## **Influence** While *The Sensual World* did not achieve the commercial heights of *Hounds of Love*, it was a critical and artistic success. The album set a precedent for Bush’s later work, particularly in its integration of global musical influences and its mature, introspective tone[1][2]. Its impact can be seen in: - **Expansion of Art Pop**: Bush’s fusion of folk, classical, and world music elements influenced a generation of artists seeking to push the boundaries of pop music. - **Female Artistic Agency**: By producing the album herself and foregrounding a distinctly feminine perspective, Bush paved the way for other female artists to assert creative control over their work[1][2]. - **Enduring Songs**: Tracks like “This Woman’s Work” have become cultural touchstones, covered by numerous artists and featured in film and television[1]. The album’s prescient themes and innovative sound continue to resonate, ensuring its place as a landmark in Bush’s catalog and in the broader landscape of popular music. --- ## **Pros and Cons** | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Lyrically rich and inventive, exploring complex themes with nuance and depth[1][3][4]. | Some tracks may feel overly dense or self-indulgent to listeners unaccustomed to Bush’s style[4]. | | Musically adventurous, blending Celtic, Eastern European, and electronic influences into a cohesive whole[1][3][4]. | The original CD mastering was criticized for a certain “coldness” in the sound, though later remasters have improved this[2]. | | Strong, expressive vocal performances, with memorable contributions from Trio Bulgarka and David Gilmour[1][4]. | The album’s eclecticism and lack of a single narrative arc may make it feel less unified than earlier works like *Hounds of Love*[1][3]. | | Sophisticated production, balancing lush arrangements with emotional intimacy[4]. | The 80s production style (synths, drum sounds) may date some tracks for modern listeners[4]. | | Forward-thinking themes, especially regarding technology and gender, that remain relevant today[1][3]. | Commercially, it did not reach the heights of its predecessor, possibly due to its more subdued and experimental approach[2]. | --- ## **Conclusion** *The Sensual World* is a masterful album that showcases Kate Bush at the height of her creative powers. It is a record of transition—between youth and maturity, fantasy and reality, tradition and innovation. Bush’s willingness to embrace vulnerability and complexity, both lyrically and musically, results in an album that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The album’s strengths lie in its lyrical sophistication, musical diversity, and emotional honesty. While its density and experimentalism may not appeal to everyone, these very qualities have cemented its status as a cult favorite and a touchstone for adventurous pop music. *The Sensual World* remains a testament to Bush’s artistry and her ability to capture the full spectrum of human experience in sound.

This was my first listen to a Kate Bush album...and WOW! Beautiful lush and atmospheric sounds and the voice of an angel. It sounded to me like she was channeling Peter Gabriel...a lot of similarities to his "So" album. Really enjoyed this one!

5/5 Velvet Arousal Swells This album isn’t just sensual— It’s sentient. It listens to you as much as you listen to it.

4.5

At times challenging. I really like the world elements and use of strings and successfully pulled me into a different place.

It’s Kate Bush. It’s ethereal, quirky and amazing. Tempted to knock a star off for not being Hounds of Love, but holy heck it’s a stunning album.

Another album I already knew and loved before I started the generator. Kate's music is just amazing - well, maybe not everything she made, but this album surely is phenomenal. It has some of my favorite Kate Bush songs, it's such a beautfiul experience to listen to it from start to finish. It's really worth listening.

Superb.

The ultimate album to play while you make dinner for a goth chick so she puts out later in the evening.

Meravigliosa, onirica, ipnotica, energetica, mi è piaciuta un sacco

Sumptuous album.

Stunning vocals, incredible instrumentation, dreamy vibes.

9/10.

First impression is that this doesn't sound "pop" at all, but well it's Kate Bush after all. I think this album is still relevant today, and that's quite an achievement for a late 80s pop album. Beautiful music, the only problem is that I NEED several listens to appreciate this kind of music. (though it's still interesting).

When I first heard this album, I thought it was ok, a bit strange. But as always with Kate, her music grows on you. After several re-listenings, I loved it. And still do, as I listen to her albums regularly. So this is a no-brainer for me.

Solid

Loved this album when it came out. It still hold up for me. The Trio Bulgarka are jarring at first but work on subsequent listens.

Genius - nuff said

A palatable version of Hounds of Love. If you liked the last one, you’ll like this one! It lacks the peaks of Hounds, and it also lacks its more experimental moments, but that evens out to something a bit more consistent and generally listenable. I’m not saying I could put this on at a house party, but it is a million times more accessible overall, and that’s just as valuable as a record that changes the game. And the beauty is that Bush achieves that without ever sacrificing her own voice. To me, there’s not a bad moment on The Sensual World. But then again, the worst moments are the ones that feel stuck in the ‘80s, like “Between a Man and a Woman,” so as a sucker for that sound, I was still on board. Basically, I just love Kate Bush. Simple as that.

A relaxing, charming and creative 80's album. Solid record all around.

This was absolutely brilliant. Never dug into Kate Bush's back catalogue beyond the obvious Running Up That Hill and Hounds of Love, but I've liked Tori Amos for a long time, and I see a lot of similarities. If you take Bush's more experimental stuff and extrapolate, you end up with Björk, but if you take the core of this album and extrapolate, you end up with Little Earthquakes. Probably the most enjoyable discovery so far on this voyage.

What an absolutely breathtaking album. My second Kate Bush of the project. She's one of my favorites of all time, and I'll echo what I said before that her artistry is unmatched. The sources of her inspiration are so unique and it's hard to imagine anyone else executing them in such pleasantly surprising ways. On this album alone, there are songs inspired by James Joyce's Ulysses, Stephen Hawking, The Godfather, and her cat, Rocket. Not to mention a song about dancing with a man who turns out to be Hitler. And, of course, This Woman's Work written for She's Having a Baby. The first time I heard Rocket's Tail transition into This Woman's Work, my breath caught for a tiny moment. She is a truly brilliant artist and I'm so glad to have her music as a constant companion.

fantastic

It's unusual for an album to sound so '80s, but not be dated. Kate Bush has always been a legend and her music holds up well.

True to its name, this is a sensual (late 80’s) ride. Luscious instrumentation throughout, it feels like a bare assed romp through silk sheets. My only beef with Kate is that her songs veer into the obtuse abstract realm just for the sake of it. This album is very well executed though, so it’s totally forgivable, and even welcomed because it suits these songs, unlike others I’ve heard from her.

Wow. This album was really powerful and beautiful. So many layers of sound and emotion. I was so-so on her last album, but this one kind of knocked my socks off. I got very immersed in the soul of it. I like how a lot of the tracks built as they went on. The first and last tracks were my faves, but so many great ones in between too.

Amazing! Anytime I thought I wasn’t loving it, the songs managed to come back around and grip me again. With that said, this one definitely needs way more than just one listen.

I'm not familiar with Kate Bush except for that one "Running up that hill" This was a beautiful album.

Lovlwy

Großartig. Kate Bush eben. Tolle Atmosphäre, spannende Stimme. 5/5

Every single song is beautiful and very affecting - a perfect record!

Great album. All the quirkiness and splendor one expects from Kate Bush.

Favorite Kate Bush CD.

Third Kate Bush album on the list. I remember this was a highly anticipated release at the time. Not as strong as Hounds of Love but this was not to be expected, still an easy 5 stars. my score in 1989: 10/10 my score in 2024: 10/10

Perhaps not as special as The Dreaming and Hounds of Love, but still a very beautiful album. The Trio Bulgarka sounds amazing, especially on my favourite track Deeper Understanding.

Great album!

-YES another toe-curling five star number from Kate bush. It’s a lot more conventional and mature than The Dreaming but almost as good. I went through a period just about a year ago where I was absolutely obsessed with this album so it’s nice to revisit it -Favorites are The Sensual World, Love and Anger, The Fog, Heads We’re Dancing, and Rocket’s Tail

yes

So good! Very emotive. I like the lyrics, vocals, and sax parts the most..especially those deep cuts

Favorite Track: This Woman’s Work The Sensual World

If there is a problem in loving and appreciating an artists work so much, it is you are sometimes so familiar with a particular album you seldom listen to it in full. This is one of the great things about following this list in that you are sometimes ‘forced’ to listen to an album you thought it was impossible not to find anything new in. I realised that a few days ago when I was dealt Tarkus by ELP and reinforced today with this massive album. I knew it was bloody good but if you asked me yesterday where I would have put it in the complete Kate Bush catalogue it would have been near the bottom. But how the passage of time sometimes distorts your view or memories. Just one listen through again and I had to reassess to conclude it is impossible to grade any Kate Bush album as they are all masterpieces in their own way and completely different from one album to the next. That’s the magic of Kate Bush and why I and billions of others love her music. Because of the passage of time it was like hearing one or two of the lesser known tracks for the first time and since I have upgraded my listening equipment over the years discovered new sounds within the tracks. “This Woman’s Work” is a track which has never slipped my mind and one of my all time favourite Kate Bush songs. What a beauty it is. When Kate Bush sits behind a piano and sings a song with little accompaniment there is no-one like her to produce such emotion and sadness which always invariably brings me to tears. 5+/5 10/4/24

I’m at a 5. This is my first Kate Bush album – obviously, Running Up That Hill was huge a few years ago, but I never really took a deeper dive into her music. What’s here is one hell of a look at the idea of the human condition and the need for relevancy, comfort, and connection, bedazzled and supplemented with fantastic production work that seems to be the absolute pinnacle of the mid-80s style, refined all the way to this point in 1989. Her vocals are incredible throughout this album, and the lyricism is pretty damn good throughout. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a more effective beat drop in my life than the launch of “Rocket’s Tail” – just a masterclass of how to do that sort of thing and have it work perfectly. It’s one of the many examples of great production work blending with Kate’s vision that are scattered throughout the album, but it hits brilliantly on that track in particular. This Woman’s Work might be one of the most emotional album closers that I’ve ever heard. Seeing the scene it’s paired with adds an incredible layer of depth. Really, I could keep glowing with praise, but I just felt really touched by this album. It hits a few snags of repetition or empty spots at points, but those get immediately washed away by some great line or a great vocal hit or something crazy in the soundscape. It’s just a really fucking strong album, and a very easy 5 for me.

I would have never have thought of pairing jaunty folk instuments with, well, the sensual world. But I'm not Kate Bush Better than I expected even from her tbh! Heads We're Dancing was a revelation. I didn't think we'd get such a BEAT! Rocket's Tail was bloody gorgeous. She's just a real visionary and it shows here, throughout. She seems more purposeful this album than the one I had to study But I did in fact get called out by the spending my evenings with the computer like a friend line...

the queen of my heart

One of the small number of people for me who need their own scale.

109% brilliant

Listened to it many times. She’s awesome. Wife loves it too. 😘

based

Love a bit of the Bush….

Progressive pop perfection.

I have a slight distrust in anyone who calls Kate Bush 'too weird'. I do kind of understand though. Her vocal style is unique, her music refuses to be complacent, and she's routinely compared to Bjork (not a bad thing in my opinion). The last point is slightly unfair as Bjork was still aimlessly jumping around Icelandic punk bands when Kate Bush was already established. If anything, it's Bjork who sounds like Kate Bush. I've always been intrigued by her music though it didn't immediately make complete sense to me. Repeated listens and multiple albums really help to connect the pieces though. There's something different and truthful about Kate Bush that's sitting there waiting for new generations to discover. Thanks to 'Stranger Things' that's exactly what has been happening. If you didn't like this one or found it 'too weird', I'd encourage another listen. Like a good wine, sometimes you need to let it sit for a short while before drinking it.

I just listen to this album a few weeks ago. I love this album and Kate Bush in general. I love the mixture of traditional and contemporary music. Great story telling and very emotional.

Excellent album that is much more than just a collection of songs. The songs and soundscape are written to be part of a whole without the too obvious need to produce them for single release. Dua Lippa eat your heart out.

The 80s was a dark period in pop music, especially the latter half of the decade. Things were so commercialised and overproduced, and everything just sounded the same and was painfully cheesy. For my whole life I have only ever been able to describe it as this "annoying 80s sound", without knowing what it actually was. But anyway, you get the point. I'm just going off on a tangent now. Kate Bush was a beacon of hope in the 80s. In such a commercial era of pop music, her progressive lyrics and forward thinking approach to art pop is so refreshing, and has aged absolutely beautifully. She did what she wanted and never sold out and became just another 80s pop star that faded into irrelevance in the early 90s. She kept making genuinely good music and I couldn't be more thankful for it, as fantastic albums like this show how there still was great pop music in the late 80s.

Eerie vocals over some well written and produced instrumentation. It’s witchcraft in the best way.

Well, it’s Kate Bush. For me this one flags at the start of side 2. Still gets a 5 though. This Woman’s Work has the ability to reduce me to tears

Absolutely excellent. I will never not give Kate Bush anything less than 5 stars. While The Sensual World isn't Kate Bush's best or, dare I say, flawless (see The Dreaming or Hounds of Love), it does have my favourite KB song; Never for Ever.

5/5. I don't know how she does it, every album feels so expressive and experienced. There is a passion and world-building that exists through your voice but also through great choices in instrumentation. This album, and most of her albums, spawned a generation of art pop that allowed female artists to explore the experimental without commercial or executive pushback. Just an awesome album, just like most of her stuff, great harmonies and backing vocals as well. Best Song: Love And Anger, Rocket's Tail, This Woman's Work

Gorgeous, Sensual, unique, wonderful.

brilliant

So apparently Kate Bush releasing The Dreaming, Hounds of Love, and The Sensual World in order might be one of my favourite three-album streaks ever. And I had absolutely no idea before going through this list.

Kate Bush utilizes the bouzouki, uilleann pipes and a damn fishing rod on the first track - and I'm all aboard. It's a bit less dreamy and more grounded (if any Kate Bush album from this era can be called that) and it suits the songwriting, production and her vocals immensely. The Sensual World ends an insane trio of albums by Kate Bush, with this, the last of her 80's-albums, being slightly better than The Dreaming and almost as good as Hounds of Love.

Love it.

Beautiful voice. Amazing lyrics.

Blows me over each time I listen - which has been many times.

This Woman’s Work always gives me chills when I hear it. It is profoundly moving. I’m not familiar with Kate’s full catalogue of work, but I think this might be the most accessible and enthralling she has ever been. Hounds of Love was giving me life too, but this album is an ethereal ghostly beauty that captivates and arrests my attention. The soundscape created here is lush, emotional, and airy; I love this side of Kate, she’s brilliant at creating fully realized sonic worlds where listeners can luxuriate in the splendour of it all. Top marks!

Amazing!

Perfect beauty.

Fantastic album. Must buy on vinyl.

I'm familiar with a lot of Kate Bush's work; I was a big fan of her throughout her catalog up to and including Hounds Of Love and for whatever reason, she fell off my radar. This album rivals HOL and The Dreaming for what she's known for best: excellent songwriting, top-tier musicianship and arrangements, and state-of-the-art production quality. Fabulous album. Mick Karn's bass on Deeper Understanding is a real standout treat.

After Wuthering Heights, I thought I'd heard all I needed to hear from Kate Bush. Turns out this album has everything I loved about that song but without the almost shrill edge that made me avoid the rest of her catalog. I'm glad this album was on the list. Time to give her a deeper listen

Love, love, love Kate Bush since the early 80's. Favorite all time female vocalist. But I didn't ever buy this album! I have several others.

Absolutely loved it. Definitely among my new favorite albums of its era - have listened to a bunch of Kate Bush before but never this album somehow. Magical. Amazing melodies and arrangements.

Ein Album, dass ich schon lange nicht mehr gehört habe - und es gefällt mir wieder einmal sehr gut.

I adore Kate Bush. She’s an arty, sometimes comical, overly sensitive when she needs to be and tough when she’s not rock singer. Even though I haven’t listened to a lot of her albums (I’ve only listened to some of Lionheart and The Kick Inside and this one today), she makes some really good songs that stand the test of time. Her songwriting on this album is just like the others: Adventurous and not afraid to go the distance. Songs like the title track and “Heads We’re Dancing” are stellar examples of this newfangled sound she seems to have made. All of the songs on this album are pure gold in musical form. This is an album I’d definitely recommend to other people for the adventurous sounds alone. I’ll be sure to keep a look out for Hounds of Love and any other album of hers on this list, and I’ll definitely listen to this one again. 5/5 Favorites: “Deeper Understanding”, “Heads We’re Dancing”, “Between a Man and a Woman”, “This Woman’s Work” Least Favs: None

Didn't get it at first, then I did. Made me cry amazing

This is the kind of thing I want from this project. I've always wanted to dive into Kate Bush beyond Hounds Of Love, but never have made the time. This was absolutely excellent, and I will definitely go all in on her catalogue now. Such a weird, beautiful record.

I’ve heard one Kate Bush album prior to today (Hounds Of Love) and it completely blew me away. I didn’t realise quite how many songs of hers that I already knew until listening to that. Therefore, I’m understandably excited to give this a listen today! Songs I already knew: This Woman’s Work Favourites: This Woman’s Work, The Sensual World Holy hell, this album is phenomenal. I’d heard This Woman’s Work before but hadn’t properly listened to it, and it gave me full body goosebumps and got me quite emotional. Her voice is angelic throughout, and the music is very 80s, but also much more interestingly arranged than I may have expected before listening. Truly, Kate Bush is something else. This might have shot into one of my favourite albums of all time.

This was great. David Gilmore screams on a couple of tracks, neat mix of 80s sounds with traditional Irish instruments, loved it. Will listen to again for sure

Weird in a way I'm not cool enough to appreciate.

Awesome

Listened to it, as soon as it ended I started the album again. This Woman's Work at the end is unreal, just perfect

Beautiful

of course, kate bush is brilliant. this is a really great album in general, showing off that brilliance. i find it to be a bit more subdued than some of her other earlier stuff, and i am a bit more of a fan of the more off-the-wall stuff she did on earlier albums. that being said, this is still a great album that highlights her songwriting and ability to arrange music.

Loved it!

It's so good. Her voice, the drums, the chorus, everything is beautiful.

At once rapturous and lustrous, Kate Bush follows up her biggest hit with a greeting that evokes the climactic end of a Irish literary classic. From here on, she soars and shines in her own by now lofty standards and she doesn't disappoint in the slightest. The Sensual World thus allows itself to not only make splendid usage of its structure but allow eventual inhabitants to glean inspiration from its environment. Yet another wonderful entry in the Kate Bush Canon.

p620. 1989. 4.5 stars. Brilliant all rounder shows how it should be done - there are more ideas and invention here than most artists manage in an entire career. And This Woman's Work is possibly the best song she's ever written. Half a point docked for getting a little bit saggy around the rear, but its still fabulous. A bit like Kate :)

I'd still consider Hounds Of Love her gratest album, but there is only one word. Genius. ❤️

Great record, love the openness of the sound

Kate kills it again.

Love Kate Bush, certainly unique. Fave tracks, The Sensual World, Deeper Understanding.

This is an incredible album. I don't know why I didn't seek it out earlier given how much I like 'Hounds of Love'. I think I might even enjoy this one more as a whole but that's a tough call. I continued to listen to this one throughout the day on repeat, which is always a surefire sign that an album is 5/5 for me. I think "Love and Anger" and "This Woman's Work" are my two complete standouts from this album. This is just really beautifully written and Kate Bush's voice carries so much emotional. Standout Tracks: The Sensual World, Love and Anger, Reaching Out, Deeper Understanding, Rocket's Tail, This Woman's Work

What can I say? The woman’s a genius and “This Woman’s Work” is brilliant. Best tracks: This Woman’s Work, Between A Man And A Woman, Rocket’s Tail, Deeper Understanding, Love And Anger

Brilliant album.

This album makes me incredibly sad. In an artistic way. It used to, too, when I was younger. Now I know why. It's not any easier now than it was then, but at least I have context for the emotions now. I am less afraid.

Absolutely stunning masterpiece. I've never listened to this album properly before and I'm so so happy that I have now. I'm going to keep listening quite a few more times now as well. This album takes me to so many interesting places in my mind and on a much more shallow level is also just really lovely to listen to, it makes me feel good and I love the complexity of different sounds working together. I cannot imagine how a piece of artwork like this could be created by a human or where you would start with it. There is a lot of magic in this album for me.

Well I think it has to be a 5 star.. what an incredible album and piece of art. Kate Bush is such a visionary and deserves all the credit and prestige she's acquired. Woman's Work must be one of the best most perfect songs ever written right? Loved the some of the heavier ones, a bit surprising. I feel like I need to listen intently 5 more times to appreciate this properly

This is a complete masterpiece.

As I lay out my thoughts on The Sensual World in time order, I see the sum is a little funny. Bush starts in unique sonic territory, brings back her distinctly cosmic basslines, then integrates solo lines that smack of glam rock. Compared to Hounds, this album ends in a definite open end. Somehow, the incompleteness is right beside that mentioned sum: Perfection, certainly more than the parts promise to be. I don't imagine this will convert non-fans, and there are less charitable readings. But just as Kate features elevate other records, Joyce references do so here.

This Woman's Work.

Kate Bush's music is so distinct and atmospheric that even the worse tracks were still interesting. It's really something to see where she takes each song concept and music wise. Bush is always 5/5 BT - This Woman's Work - The Fog - Never Be Mine - Deeper Understanding - the entire second side of the album & title track as honorable mentions

One of my favourite Kate Bush albums, there are really some fantastic songs on here. "Deeper Understanding" is weirdly both nostalgic now and also quite prescient. "This Woman's Work" always gets an emotional reaction from me.

Another excellent album from Kate Bush 4.5/5

9/10 Kate Bush definitely stands out from the rest of the 80s pop scene I really like her stuff! but it took me a little while to ease into it

I loved it.

i love kate bush

It took me a while to formulate my thoughts on this one as it's an album I find very hard to rate. On one hand this is very clearly a step down from her best but it's still a Kate Bush album and still a great one. It doesn't have the wild experimentation of The Dreaming or the grand pop tunes of Hounds of Love but it does have consistently great Kate bush songwriting throughout with excellent personal and touching lyrics. Not 5/5 in the context of her discography but in the wider world of music I think I'll just about give it a 5.

My favorite Kate

Thia ia one of her best. I love Kate Bush.

A little into the title track, the first on the album, the impression was that this was going to be a fairly flat reworking of early Kate Bush, but how wrong this impression was. The album grows steadily throughout and by the end I was more than a little impressed. A very suprising 5 from me It is not going to be to liked by everyone as it is not pop, not rock, nor blues, not even jazz. It defies any form of categorisation

Brilliant.

Bush

idk yet

Really wonderful. She's so good.

Kate Bush’s THE SENSUAL WORLD was a staple since my college years. I have routinely listened to it since its release in 1989. I love every song on it. While not her most experimental sounding work, there is plenty of variety on it. I particularly love her use of the Bulgarian ensemble and other world music influences scattered throughout. On of my many favorite Kate Bush albums that I never tire of.

je suis outrée par la mauvaise note globale de l'album

Kate Bush is my guilty pleasure, however just based on her hits. Never took the time to listen to albums let alone this one. The album is great, the songs really flow together with the indistinguishable voice of Kate of course.

I neglected to try out this record before. Shameful. I got the impression before her style was insufferably quirky. However, her duo with Peter Gabriel was achingly reassuring, "Don't Give Up." That carries over directly to the tone of this album, especially with "This Woman's Work" and the quality of production and Mick Karn on fretless bass. Just like I was late to the party (by decades) for Annie Lennox - Diva, I've got to take some sweet time to brew on this one. [Edit] Not long after this rating I realized what an impact this record made on me. It should have always been a 5.

One of my favorites. Nobody addresses poetry in music quite like Kate.

The most extravagant thing I've ever done is fly to the UK to see Kate Bush twice in a week back in 2014. It's not The Hounds of Love or The Dreaming but there's a lot of good things on this album. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this album. The B-side (starting with 'Deeper Understanding') is a go to but I often skip the patchier A-side. There's something about the "mmm, yes" at the start of the title track, the whole song is one of my favourite vocals of hers. 'Love and Anger' is interesting but after this the first side gets increasingly patchy. 'The Fog' is ok, 'Reaching Out' is a bit of a nothing song and 'Heads We're Dancing' is one of the worst songs she's ever released. The second side is a different story though, some of the very best of her songs - 'Deeper Understanding', 'Never Be Mine', 'Rocket's Tail, 'This Woman's Work' plus the tacked on B-side 'Walk Straight Down The Middle' included on the CD version. I was originally excited hearing about 'The Director's Cut', anticipating she was taking the worst songs from this album and 'The Red Shoes' and making something of them. Instead she took the best songs from both albums and made them worst. Not her best but up there. Would probably give 4.5 stars but have no problem rounding up to the full 5.

- iffy volume mixing, nice for background with moments where it steals your attention. - Out-there but not as out-there as other Kate Bush stuff. Nicely listenable.

Okay but have you seen the Sensual Worlds music video? ♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️

I think this album showcases her voice and creativity the best. Ahead of her time for sure.

Always respect Kate Bush more than appreciate her. Her artistry can't be denied, a true and rare visionary in the popular music space. But rarely do I actively want to sit down and listen to a Kate Bush record for some reason. However, I am always thankful when I'm given an excuse to and live in her world a little while. Do wish her artistic peak came in an era that was so beholden to the production trends of the time. But what can you do.

Kate Bush requires multiple plays to get beyond her high voice and hear the music behind it. I realized how similar it sounds to Peter Gabriel due to the Fairlight CMI and world rhythms used in the 80s. Sensual World is great. The strings in The Fog are nice. Heads We're Dancing with Mick Karn on bass is good. Trio Bulgarka on Rocket Tail and other songs are interesting.

Yesterday I wrote after listening to Little Earthquake by Tori Amos: “if I want to listen to Kate Bush, I listen to Kate Bush.” And I did. This is so much better and far more original. Such great album. And still urgent.

Really impressed, I really liked Woman's Work and Rocket's Tail. Easy 4 stars.

Like stepping into a time machine set to '80s Gothic Prom. I found myself fully immersed in its moody, layered world. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - The Sensual World - Love and Anger - The Fog - This Woman's Work

This is my first exposure to Kate’s music beyond Running Up That Hill, which had such a huge comeback and boom in popularity, particularly with my generation, when it played a pivotal part in the show Stranger Things in 2022. That song is wonderful and well-loved for good reason and after listening to this album it seems Kate is just an amazing artist if this is anything to go by. She is a creative in her element here, producing all of her music herself at this point and pushing boundaries in doing so. Her fun production, performance on the keys, and her vocals blend in such a cool way on each track, ever dynamic. Her vocal talent and performances complement exceptional storytelling as well. This album was pretty accessible but had some more avant-garde moments sprinkled in as well, highlighting Bush’s creativity, such as the soaring bagpipes in the opener, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, who was instrumental in discovering Kate, performing an experimental guitar part throughout Rocket’s Tail, and the Bulgarian Trio Bulgarka featuring prominently with their powerful, haunting vocals across the record. This was a great introduction to Bush and I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Title Track, This Woman’s Work, Rocket’s Tail

top

The Sensual World - 3.5/5 Love And Anger - 3.5/5 The Fog - 3.5/5 Reaching Out - 4/5 Heads We're Dancing - 3/5 Deeper Understanding - 4.5/5 Between A Man And A Woman - 4/5 Never Be Mine - 3.5/5 Rocket's Tail - 3/5 This Woman's Work - 4/5

Enjoyed the album particularly on second listen. Each song felt like it had something to offer.

Pretty accessible as far as Kate Bush goes. I said multiple times throughout my listen “This is actually really good,” and it is!

🌸💐🥀✨🌙💜

A fantastic art pop classic. Great melody and hooks, but still has that Kate Bush wild abandon. A great album.

She is amazing with words and song. Very good album.

Didn't grab me as much as Hounds of Love, which is sublime, but this is still a fantastic record.

Unique voice

Great Sunday album

Bewundernswerte Künstlerin! "Hounds Of Love" ist mein Favorit von ihr, aber das hier hat mir auch sehr gut gefallen.

amazing album. love kate’s voice and emotion in her music

One to play again.

This was a fun vibe!

Wow härlig känsla! 4/5

I almost mentioned Kate Bush in my review of Tapestry yesterday, although I realise I would largely have been repeating the distinction I made between Bush and Amy Winehouse a while back. Carole King's somewhat confessional songwriting is a precursor to Amy Winehouse's explicitly confessional, self-immolatory songwriting. This binary distinction wasn't unique to me. I'm confident it was how female singer-songwriters were largely discussed in pop music, perhaps even to this day, divided into two bins: those who are true to the heart and those who are true to the imagination, that is the plain-speakers and the eccentrics. Thus, while there is not much musically connecting Kate Bush with Bjork say, they are a benchmark against which a certain type of female performer will be judged. Diamanda Galas, though probably considered unlistenable by fans of both Bush and Bjork, is certainly of the class. Although the class distinction is certainly not perfect: Tori Amos is confessional to an uncomfortable degree and that is her eccentric. Joni Mitchell, the exemplar of the female pop musician, straddles both classes, because she straddles all classes just like a colossus must. Still, I stand by the basic premise that there is art of personal truth and art of individual imagination and I favour the latter. And why I think this distinction is so common within discussion of female artists is twofold: a) there have been fewer women pop artists historically and b) I see fewer men that fit the position that I believe Kate Bush fills in the public imagination. The true pop eccentrics - Robyn Hitchcock, Luke Haines, Robert Culvert - aren't sufficiently musical. The virtuosi - Prince (and God to Kate sound like Prince sometimes on this record), Freddie Mercury, too many solo prog-metal performers - are too embedded and embodied in the music for it to be purely imaginal. The obvious answers are people like Bowie, David Byrne, and Peter Gabriel, but I don't buy it. The first two are far too much a part of the art world. They are too aware of media and presentation, never truly indulging in the debasement that Bush and Bjork engage in (The Slipperman aside). Bowie himself admitted that he was an artist first and that he was only a pop musician because that was the popular mass art form at the time he came to prominence. Byrne went to art school too. I believe that, without the other lads at Charterhouse, Peter Gabriel would have gone into advertising. But Kate Bush was a musician first, writing songs at an early age at the family piano, encouraged by Dave Gilmour. Bjork was a child pop star. They are musical artists in a way that I think few of their male contemporaries are: focussed on music as art. Their peers are Satie and Scriabin moreso than anyone in pop music. This may seem hyperbolic. Perhaps even foolish, when discussing The Sensual World, which feels to be Bush's most confessional record in tone. Confessional in the sense that it is lyrically somewhat banal and commonplace. But her trick has always been to find the music in the commonplace as much as in the poetic and literary. The appeal to her in Molly Bloom's soliloquy, for example, was its musicality, its singability and, when she didn't get permission, she rewrote the words to fit the music she felt in them. Music is the final artistic output. I am reminded that, fourteen years later, she would set the number Pi to music, although, notably, she changed a few digits to make it sound better. Rewriting Joyce is nothing so brazen as rewriting god. And that is the artist's task, I think, to gently correct god. Not to improve god, exactly, but nudge god's creation into clearer communication with people. Music does this better than any other art form. This ramble is, I think, my apology to Kate Bush for not giving enough time or thought to The Sensual World - generally and yesterday, on the day it was generated. I have nothing more to give you now than the promise that I will give further consideration and, perhaps, find deeper understanding of this beautiful record. Because all you try to do is make beautiful records. 4 I am half tempted to say we should ‘Did Not Listen’ The Sensual World so I have an excuse to keep listening carefully to it and thinking about it over the weekend. It is an album that makes more demands of a listener’s attention than Hounds (which easily seduces with the bold clarity of its musical ideas) or The Dreaming (which is so weird it’s harder to ignore than attend to). There is a sort of aloofness about The Sensual World in its almost unpalatably rich arrangements (excepting This Woman’s Work, which gains all the more power in its bareness at the end ). Amid the odd wail of those backing vocalists, and all sorts of strings, and harp, and funny bass - I find it’s Dave Gilmour’s guitar bits on Love and Anger and Rocket’s Tail that feel the most unnecessary and indulgently out-of-place. Addition for the sake of it. Decadence. It’s the sort of music that gives you gout. It is very, very good music and one of the best compliments I think can be offered it is that it succeeds in spite of a falling off in Kate Bush’s poetic instincts. The various subjects are arrestingly dramatic, but there is a paucity of really juicy lines. Much of it is shapeless and rambling - Between a Man and a Woman is just a string of banalities, except for the bit about ‘modern western pressures’, which is also the worst bit. Never Be Mine is similar. Deeper Understanding is a good idea for a song but… ‘I was loading a new program/ I had ordered from a magazine/ Are you lonely are you lost?/ This voice console is a must/ I press execute..’ That is bloody awful. Nevertheless, in the singing of near enough everything on this album, Bush is absolutely assured. She can and does set anything she likes to fluent, convincing melody. Often inspired. I like most of the songs on this album very much (including Deeper Understanding). Love and Anger is a favourite. This Woman’s Work bowls me over every time I hear it. 4/5

Oh man, think anyone under the age of 20 had even heard of this artist until Stranger Things resurrected her with Running Up That Hill. It doesn't appear to be on this album, but I'm excited for some 80s music. Let's see what GPT says about this one. This one seems to be all about her voice. I really like that I've been doing this with GPT so I know what to appreciate on each album. I like the way this was described. "It’s sensual in the literal sense: texture, breath, touch, movement, memory, bodies, language, atmosphere." "On this album, she’s more close-up and physical — breathier, warmer, more tactile. The title track especially feels like she’s not just singing about sensuality, she’s letting the phrasing, rhythm, and mouth-feel of the words become part of the sensuality." "Her voice becomes a character, the instruments become scenery, and the production creates this soft-focus emotional world around everything." 4 Stars

Slightly hurt as the following up from the legendary Hounds of Love and the 4 year gap between albums, Bush is still incredible.

I love how many famous writers and musicians love Kate Bush. Not as good as Hounds of Love, but her talent is undeniable.

tolle stimme, guter mix von kunst und pop.

Kate ist riesig. Dieses Album nicht mein Liebstes.

kate bush always a banger. love listening to her glide across the instruments. theres a nice timbral variety here, im hearing pads + guitar + plucks, some kind of reed & 808. is it weird to say this instrumental reminds me of the ds pokemon mystery dungeon games or perhaps chrono trigger / earthbound yeah this is great 80s music. big fan of the spoken word sections and the juxtaposing of free rhythm against the rhythm section. listening to this feels lonely, but not in a bad way. like being alone with something, not another person, but some kind of other presence that you are alone together with. jesus christ never be mine does kind of go hard. ms bush why do all your songs sound like vgm highlights: yes. the fog, deeper understanding, never be mine

i didn't really care for kate bush as a youngster, but over the years i've grown to really enjoy her voice. but i never went beyond Hounds of Love. mistake, this is great.

Just Kate being Kate, innit

This was great! I’d like to listen to it again great vibes great sounds didn’t necessarily stop me in my tracks but not everything has to.

Clear winners for me were Love and Anger, Heads We’re Dancing and This Woman’s Work. Loved the parts that reminded me of Hounds of Love sound and overall it was impressive. But also got sidetracked thinking about how amazing Cloudbusting is and then wanted to listen to that and was sad it wasn’t on here

Kate Bush is so much deeper and complex than I ever imagined. I've listened to several of her albums now and each time she's differently brilliant. On the surface, it sounds like typical 80's pop, but if you listen to the lyrics she is so much more than Madonna. Nothing against, Madonna of course, but Kate is on another level. I feel like I need to take some time to dive deep, listen critically, focus, and fully digest her material. Because that's the level of attention it deserves... it's that good.

I like it very good music please give me more and less stranger things buns trash! She is good when she isn't netflix's favorite artist.

One of Bush's more approachable albums, which is not to say it's easy to digest. The whole thing builds to "This Woman's Work" of course but on the way you get the swelling memory orchestra of "The Fog"

> the Beatles

charming, soft, dreamy

Cool soundscape. Favorite track: this woman’s work other picks: the sensual world, fog, reaching out

muy mistica esta señora, alguna me ha gustado bastante

So so great

kind of a bit of a more random kate bush album but hey. all her album are good... nice !

So Kate Bush is a musical treasure, no doubt. My life would have been a far poorer thing if I had never heard her Hounds of Love album before I died. After acknowledging that, though, I might question how much MORE value has come into my life specifically through The Dreaming and The Sensual World. They are fine efforts, no doubt, enjoyable experiences. But do they specifically ADD to my appreciation of what Kate Bush has to offer? I have NOT come back to them again and again in the decades since their releases the way I have to Hounds of Love. She's not doing anything notably different on this album than she has already given to the world with Hounds. I mean, 1001 albums is a ridiculous amount and leaves plenty of room for multiple albums by a single artist. And Bush is not even close to the multiple-album artists that I question the most on a list that includes ZERO albums from Warren Zevon. I mean, could anyone seriously argue that someone who had somehow never heard a single song from either of those two artists would be more completely musically educated by listening to Hounds of Love and then this album than they would by listening to Hounds of Love followed by Excitable Boy or Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School?! Obviously, that's an argument with the list and NOT with this album or with Bush herself, who, as I say, is FAR from the most egregious choice in terms of artists with multiple albums present. This album is lovely, and I can honestly say that my life WOULD have been diminished if I had never heard "This Woman's Work." Simply sublime.

Beautiful voice lent to the ethereal experience that was this album. This Woman's Work was the definitive highlight for me. 3.5 stars.

sinto muito pelo ph, mas a ex dele fez um bom album.

Perhaps this is grading on a scale because I can't help but compare to her other work that includes 3 utter masterpieces. It's still a great album with some pure, original beauty, especially the first and last track.

excellent album. the song with the computer stuff is kind of funny because it’s so outdated, but lyrics are surprisingly relevant. Kate Bush can see the future

Gritty Rock

Despite her resurgence, I'm not familiar with Kate Bush's game, but I like it so far. Her voice is phenomenal, and there's enough going on in the supporting instrumentals to keep me interested (3.5)

This may not be the best Kate Bush album but it is still really good. Woman’s work, sensual world and Love & Anger are some stand outs for me. Very good.

Could grow to a 5.

Interesting album! I’d definitely like to hear more from her. Lots of texture, good mix of styles, clever lyrics.

Average Kate Bush is still above average pop

What does it say about an artist’s legacy if a work like The Sensual World isn’t even their best? Do we take Kate Bush‘s genius for granted? But let’s start from the beginning — aka the burden of following up a masterpiece. Kate Bush had to bear it twice. The first time came after her earth-shattering debut, when she redefined what avant-garde pop songwriting could achieve: masterful pop sensibility paired with a radical commitment to uniqueness. A formula that she would later refine with her towering work, Hounds of Love - rightly considered an album for eternity, with its two distinct halves evenly split between a loose collection of songs and a cycle of thematically linked sound artifacts. So that was the second time she had to live up to a blistering predecessor. The first time, it did not quite work out: not only in my view was Lionheart a somewhat lukewarm follow-up to The Kick Inside. But how does The Sensual World hold up to Hounds of Love? Did it work out the second time? Well, The Sensual World is a worthy successor to her (arguably) career highlight. In some respects, it might even mark a first for Kate Bush. For once, it feels like she truly continued along the path laid out by her previous work, instead of radically changing pace and direction. She taps into similar sonics and doubles down on the pop factor that was already embedded in the fabric of Hounds of Love. And precisely because of that, The Sensual World is a good record - a great one, even. Not her best, but that doesn’t say much when you have The Kick Inside and Hounds of Love under your belt. The final moments of Love and Anger are also telling: did you notice her laughter? Kate Bush seems free - almost unburdened. This airy sense of weightlessness that flows through the album (much like it already did in Oh to Be in Love et al) is what truly propels The Sensual World to higher spheres. Also, with Aerial, she managed to achieve this by no means small feat once more - coming close to the brilliance of both The Kick Inside and Hounds of Love. Wow. What an artist. What a genius. Let’s not take her or her work for granted.

Good

not very focused listen but i liked it. gonna relisten for sure

Quite good but it's no Hounds of Love Fav tracks: Heads We're Dancing, Love and Anger

Ikke like bra som forløperen Hounds of Love, men hva er vel det?

I had the same surprised reaction to the First Kate Bush album I listened to through here, and somehow this one surprised me even more. I expected something more pop and more 80's in the wrong way. I feel like the experimentation on this album payed off and it comes off way ahead of its time. This definitely has had an influence on countless modern bands and feels similar to new indie-pop of today. Surprised how much I liked this.

Unique

It's Kate Bush, and she's ace Not listened to this before but I'd be amazed if she's ever released anything that would score less than a 4

Very good I like her other albums more though

While not my general listening, this was an easy listen. Well produced. Strong lyrics, and a powerful music score.

Kate Bush – The Sensual World (1989) On Day 97, I found Kate Bush to be a fascinating listen. She has a vocal style that reminds me of Björk, but with a lot more substance I didn't feel left in a "void" or disconnected from the music. The production is rich and consistent, providing a solid "oriental" atmosphere that feels grounded rather than just experimental. "This Woman’s Work" was easily the best track on the album it’s an emotional standout that really carries the project. The rest of the LP is a cohesive and interesting body of work that avoids being boring, offering a sophisticated blend of sounds that kept me engaged. A definitive 4/5.

I can't believe an all-timer tune like "This Woman's Work" was written for a Kevin Bacon movie. (Also a John Hughes movie, but not one of his better ones.)

Solid

Deeper Understanding predicted the AI boyfriend/girlfriend thing decades before it happened. The production is extremely 80s but in the best way. Great vocal performances and emotional songwriting without being over the top.

Always loved Kate Bush.

I really enjoy Kate Bush’s voice, and this album showcases it well. I had never really listened to her prior to this challenge, and I’m glad it has introduced me to her. A nice rebound on this challenge from her album, “The Dreaming”, that I felt had too many lows.

Ett till sånt där skumt val. Detta är inte ens hennes tredje bästa album ju! Debuten, Lionheart, Hounds of Love och kanske The Red Shoe är bättre i min mening. Fantastiskt nog är det ändå ett underbart album fyllt av pärlor. En stark fyra.

a beautiful work of art

niche

4⭐️/5 [03.15.2026] 03.27.2026

Not her best but still above average and worth a listen.

I liked this album a LOT more than I expected. There were some dull moments to be sure, but most of it had an energy I ended up being obsessed with. The bassline in Love and Anger rules so hard, along with the rest of the song. Heads We're Dancing steals the show for me though with its strange dissonance and overall tonal structure while still having the energy of a Saturday Night Fever style song. I think the low points on the album will knock it down to a 4-star for me but there are definitely some 5-star tracks on here.

Love Kate Bush. I think I was IN love with her at one point during the 80s. I fondly remember this album from the Wherehouse days!

Such an interesting album and artist. There are multiple unexpected sounds and instruments throughout, but it still sounds extremely coherent. It's just missing one or two memorable standout tracks for me though.

This was pretty nice. Somewhere between 3 and 4 for me. I’ll be generous and give it a 4 so that I actually listen to it again

4 out of 5. This album makes me want to wear a sheer robe and stand in front of an industrial fan for an hour.

Feels like Sinéad O'Connor again lol, enjoyed this for the most part and while it didn't knock me off my feet I'll definitely return to some of the better songs from here

Pretty exceptional writing and production across the album. Some mixing issues, some repetition, some novelty that hasn’t aged well, but damn, “Love and Anger” is a hell of a track.

This one was not quite my tempo, but I still found it to be interesting. It kinda just hung out in the background a lot and was slow, which all contributed to its overall vibes. It was a nice album to have playing in the background.

What a lovely record to revisit. While some give this album flack for leaning into that 80s sound even more than Hounds of Love, I think this is a charming, passionate record at its core, regardless of any production choices. Her voice is as strong and evocative as ever, so full of grit, yet delicate and insanely dynamic, and some of the tracks even remind me of some of her contemporaries that I have deep, obsessive loves of (The Blue Nile and Peter Gabriel come to mind a couple times here). I continue to believe that "This Woman's Work" could go down as her greatest song, for my money. What a way to end the album.

Arguably her best ever. Lives up to the tile with earthy, moody ballads. Incredible vocals throughout.

I found this to be an easier listen than Hounds of Love, but for me, Kate Bush remains best enjoyed in small doses. Something about her music just feels like...a lot, even though there's no one thing I can point to as the culprit. It's the whole package. "This Woman's Work" has earned its classic status—shout out to She's Having a Baby for introducing it to me—and I liked "Love and Anger." The rest is good to solid.

I really enjoy this record - it's dream-like, and soft, and yet powerful. I think I might like this even better than "Hounds of Love." FOUR STARS

This is the first LP that I considered adding to heavy rotation. Its a powerful vocal performance with a lot of layers. This is a great example of the powerful female alternative scene in the late 80's and 90's.

Kate Bush is one of a kind. I think Hounds is better than this one but this belongs on the list

This Kate Bush album is a great example of why I like this journey so much. This wasn’t my favorite album we have heard but this music is unique and all its own! I agree that her voice is a bit grating but the emotion in the voice and strength in the lyrics makes up for it. I think it’s been a bit since we’ve had an album with passion but this has passion. I especially liked the first and last song. A 7.5/10 for me yesterday!

Kate Bush is incredible. The Sensual World is a more straightforward approach to music than Hounds Of Love; it's poppy, but still weird, and with plenty of experimentation (I hear a lot of Peter Gabriel influence here). The Sensual World sounds very 'new age' at times, which scratches a very particular nostalgic itch of mine. Already Kate Bush curious, but now a Kate Bush fan. Highlights: "Love and Anger", "Reaching Out", "Heads We're Dancing"

# Album Name: The Sensual World # Artist: Kate Bush # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Good album once it gets going. Not her best but still good nevertheless # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Light 4

Love bush

Typically good and weird

dreamy, lush, mysterious, gorgeous

gostei da vibe e principalmente dos instrumentais

It’s like getting lost in fantasy land

Amamos el pop en esta cuenta pero es nuy tradicional

хорошо. напомнило бьорк, басист молодец.

Not my fave Kate Bush album but yeah my mother was right to be a hardcore fan since forever

Heard Before? Nope. Notes: - lots of words, not many hooks. - lovely synths, subtle drum grooves, lots of nifty bonus sounds. - glassy production is pretty, but covers the album with a sameness that these songs don't deserve. - vocals that cast a spell; I feel like Bjork was listening to this and taking notes. - "Deeper Understanding" sounds like our current cultural moment. - "This Woman's Work" is an ideal album closer. Powerful. Verdict: This deserves more time than I'm willing to give it. It lacks immediacy and while I can tell it's a grower, tomorrow I'm moving on to something else. Listen Again? Unsure, but I will certainly listen to some of her other albums.

OH MY GOD KATE BUSH YOURE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. This album, strangely, reminded me of the Cocteau Twins <3. It was loud and powerful, but also slow and melodic. Love, love, love.

Kate Bush wrote this entirely about Len Houmous. She was obsessed. 4.3 4/11 Reaching Out

I'm sure I'm not alone in putting Kate Bush in a box which labels her as unlistenable due to being triggered by Wuthering Heights, but I'm fairly happy to bring her out that box after listening to this. Weirdly enjoyed the whole ethereal vibe she was giving here. So Kate, sorry I judged you based on one overplayed song.

Kate Bush is so effortless cool. So is her music.

8.5

Day742 - a kate bush album so good i might have to go back and re-review the other two albums i’ve already listened to

Favorite track(s): The Sensual World, The Fog, Heads We're Dancing, Rocket's Tail

78/100. A strong art pop record with beautiful songwriting and production, but for me, it’s a clear step down from Hounds of Love. Then again, following up one of the greatest albums of all time is no small task. This still holds its own, but it lives in the shadow of its predecessor.

weird ass 80s shit fuck yea. kate bush always delivers, great album

On some tracks, the background music drowns out the vocals. It's as if she is singing from under water. She should have given her producer a stern lecture. That said, what an amazing album! "The Sensual World", "Love and Anger", and "This Woman's Work" are particularly strong songs.

Surprisingly enjoyable. It's a pop album, but there is clearly a lot more going on here than just a few pop hits. I really love all the small touches throughout, the background choir, the bass blurts, the weird animal noises she makes at the end. Really pleasant surprise of an album.

So much better than I remembered. And the final track is an all-timer

yeah its an album

A fine album. I'd still put Hounds of Love above it, but a good listen.

Kate has a great voice and this is a really weird album. Enjoyed it.

3.9 / 5 Knowing Kate Bush, I expected this album to be very artsy and experimental, and I wasn't disappointed. Although I didn't know any songs from "The Sensual World", I think that due to the creative approach and theatrical elements, this album definitely deserves a spot on this list. (which can't be said about the album that followed lol).

Vamos cerrando la semana con esta artistaza del carajo como Kate Bush. El disco está lleno de un aura romántica, pop, con canciones que parecen soundtracks de ambientes medievales. Gracias y nos vemos el viernes.

I love Kate Bush man

kate bush and björk exist in similar realms of joy and whimsy for me

Yeah, kate bush is pretty rad.

Lovely Kate

4/5

Listen, i have a hard time listening to all of Kate Bush in one go. I know the arrangements are good and interesting, but it makes me want to turn it off sometimes, yet this whole thing is great

Dig it!

I struggle with Kate Bush because I think she's great and very talented but I really hate the "80s sound" of the drums, guitar, keyboard, etc. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

I like Kate Bush! I probably liked this more than the other one

Pretty good.

She’s a lil weirdo and I love that

I know someone who knows Kate Bush quite well. Apparently, she's the loveliest person in music, very down to earth and "normal". I'd love to share a pot of tea and a couple of seed cakes with her. As for this album, I was right in the mood for it. Hit the spot! Kate sprinkled the fairy dust throughout the album. Ethereal and a little magical.

I was more familiar with Kate's previous album, Hounds of Love, but this really surprised me. The production is nothing short of incredible. Every note sounds crisp and her voice is magnetic. I couldn't tell you what the songs were about because I was too busy just vibing with them. This album is sensual, tender, delicate, fierce and nuanced. In other words, it is a Kate Bush album par excellence.

Kate Bush is incredible so its going to be a 4 minimum. Maybe not quite the level of the other two, but fantastic. The vibes are incredible on this album. All the instrumentation is so good Melodically top

Lovely album. Not quite as memorable as some other albums

I have always loved Kate-Stu I agree, she has a special place in my heart & always will. I remember when I bought this cassette (heart heart heart) and exhausting it - strong work, full of hope and enchanting simply because it is her.

Mal wieder ein Album, das sicherlich nach mehreren Durchgängen wächst. Nach dem ersten Mal an der Grenze zwischen 3 und 4 Sternen.

Zum ersten Mal ein Kate Bush-Album gehört und es hat mir überraschend gut gefallen. Konnte mir vorstellen, dass hier irgendwann auch mal eine 5 stehen könnte. Teilweise überraschend rockig.

Atmosphärisch und von der Stimme hat mir das wirklich gut gefallen. Wurde auch nicht auf voller Länge annähernd langweilig.

Bisschen weird, aber das gute Weird. Sehr atmosphärisch, schwache 4, aber 4

Ethereal. Really enjoyed the musical layers here.

her voice is just too beautiful! the sound of this is maybe more polished (?) or 80s schmaltz than i would prefer but i enjoyed it anyway. fav tracks: love and anger; the fog; never be mine

Not going to lie this really didn’t make much of an impression on me. Liked the general sound and it wasn’t a bad one to listen too but nothing really got to me. Specific rating - 3.9 Fav song - heads we’re dancing Least fav - the fog

Pretty nice listen.

I enjoyed this, but it didn't quite have the impact that Hounds of Love did. A strong album, but without any real stand out tracks.

For my personal taste, I'm a much bigger fan of pre-new-wave 'Hounds of Love' era Kate Bush - I just find her newer stuff is missing the alien weirdness that made her early stuff so amazing (aside from maybe 'Rocket's Tail' from this album, which reminded me of some of the most imaginative moments off The Dreaming). But Kate Bush is Kate Bush at the end of the day, and the talent speaks for itself - if anything, this album feels like a more mature, grounded, and sentimental take on her usual style. That idea really clicked with me on the lush, reverby, dreamy, and emotional 'Deeper Understanding', which sounded like the sonic encapsulation of a comforting hug. A good bit of this album, production-wise, sounds like this; it's all super warm and textured. And while I do think there's some of that '80s clunk here, especially on 'Heads We're Dancing', songs like 'The Fog' and 'Never Be Mine' fuse those sounds with the Celtic and Eastern influences Bush is known for. And the closer, 'The Woman's Work', is so unbelievably sad - the song feels so full in sound, yet so empty at the same time, like the crushing weight of the world you feel after losing someone special. Kate Bush once again solidifies her place, for me at least, in the art-pop hall of fame. It's a mature angle for this usually very striking artist, but it's an angle I can get behind and respect - especially when it sounds this freakin good.

Non capivo perché pop prog, poi è arrivato e spacca.

"The Sensual World" is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush. Progressive pop is the Wiki-listed genre. Alright. The self-titled song was inspired by James Joyce's "Ulysses." Kate sings lead and backing vocals and plays the piano and synthesizer. 23 additional musicians and vocalists also participated in the album including the Bulgarian ensemble trio Bulgarka. The album was very well-received critically and, commercially, it hit #2 in the UK and #43 on the US Billboard Top 200. Bells open the album and the first single "The Sensual World." A synth melody and an electronic beat. Kate with whispering and soft vocals. Uillean pipes give this a Celtic feel. The music was inspired by Joyce's "Ulysses" and she wanted to use lyrics from Molly Bloom's soliloquy but was denied. It's a song about a first-time sensory overload. Kate's vocals are more urgent in "Love and Anger." Piano, tribal beats and a prominent bass. David Gilmore giving guitar slashes and the song a rock edge. Chanting backing vocals in a complex song that builds. The second side begins with "Deeper Understanding." Piano, synth and electronic beats. And appropriate computer noises in a song about an individual who finds companionship in a computer (reminding me to watch "Her" again). The Bulgarka trio with lovely backing vocals in a song that would not be put out of place on Peter Gabriel's "So." The album closes with "This Woman's Work." A gentle piano and delicate vocals. Kate on backing vocals giving lead vocalist Kate encouragement. Strings. The song builds. A nice finish. The production on this album is exceptional with a lush and complex sound with layered instrumentation of strings, traditional folk instruments, pian0, synths, guitar, bass and idiosyncratic beats. Kate layered her own vocals too and adds guests as backing vocalists as well. The music can have a folk flair, a big sound with the strings and even a global music vibe. The music works very well with the vocals and lyrics which can have deeper meanings or be observational. I particularly like when Kate let's her vocals and the music build and explode. Her music is some of the best in doing that. It's an album I really liked and think most of you would too.

At first I thought ' Oh, OK, another generic Kate Bush album, nothing special but reasonably ok'. Gave it another listen and it seemed to register on a deeper level somehow, intriguing and rather more complex than I first rhought

I first heard Kate Bush when watching Stranger Things. Running Up That Hill became stuck in my head for weeks after that. This album doesn’t have the same level of pop appeal, but there are some great tracks. Love and Anger, Rocket’s Tail and This Woman’s Work are some of my favourites from the album

Kate Bush is so good