Kate Bush Album: “King of the Mountain”

I was so nervous as I tuned in to BBC Radio (all the way from here in Bangkok via the internet) to hear the first play of King of the Mountain. We Bush fans have been craving new material for 12 years. For the first couple of years after The Red Shoes we had to be content with an occasional track here and there ('Mna Na Eiran, Rocket Man and all those bootlegged demo tracks) but when oh when was Ms Bush going to put little Bertie into creche and get on with her real task at hand? Well here in late 2005 she finally did it. Six weeks after hearing KOTM for the first time I still love it; the creepy, creeping beginning which builds up to an almost terrifying climax with wind whistling, ghosts howling, and thankfully, Bush at her dramatic best. Now comes the agonizing wait for Aerial, and the knowledge that once I've listened to it, I won't be hearing anything else from Ms Bush until 2023.

After an absence of twelve long years from the music scene, Kate Bush returns with "King Of The Mountain", the lead single from her forthcoming album entitled "Aerial". Life may have changed for Bush in the intervening years with the onset of motherhood, yet her trademark sound is assured. Opening with an indistinct vocal over a skittish electronic beat, the track gradually builds via a crisp guitar lilt and menacing percussion, in realization of the fact that 'the wind is whistling through the house'.

The lyrics, although still with more than a hint of ambiguity, are less inscrutable and, therefore, more accessible than some of her earlier work. A meditation on the personal cost of fame and fortune, and inexorable media speculation, the sense of enforced withdrawal and isolation - conjured amid a windswept climax on top of the mountain, is palpable. Bush has seemingly lost none of her experimental conviction, and this effort serves to whet the appetite for the already eagerly anticipated new record.

this review is not for the content but to inform anyone interested of an error in the product description. it states that 'sexual healing' is over 10 minutes in length. just got a copy today and it is the better part of 6 minutes.

...unless there are two versions out there [which i doubt]

This first single from Kate Bush's first album in twleve years is a welcome addition to her catalog. Although older in years, her voice has not aged, nor has her musical originality. "King of the Mountain" (yes, it's about Elvis) hearkens back to melodic expressions not seen since "The Sensual World" while at the same time revealing itself to be fresh and new. The tune has been haunting me since I first heard snippets of it on her web site. Now that the single is out, fans can savor it, eagerly anticipating more good things from the complete double album "Aerial" in a few weeks. Good work Kate! It's nice to have you back.

I haven't ordered this copy of Kate Bush's 'Amazing' -King Of The Mountain- single, why would I?, for the art from what the other reviewers are saying about it,thats about all I can see thats new 'for me'. It looks like the same version as the album, and an old-tired 'sexual healing' track which we've all heard before. Where's the 'New' B-side/Extra tracks?, where are the cutting-edge remixes?....so it looks like if you want different artwork than the album,then buy it!,if you want the same song and more,buy the album!