The Sensual World

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The Sensual World is Kate Bush's sixth album and was released in October 1989 on EMI. For the title song she drew inspiration from James Joyce's Ulysses. Her music suited Molly Bloom's closing monologue, but the Joyce estate would not release the text. Bush therefore wrote her own words, in which Molly steps out of the book and discovers the real world. Beneath her singing sound Irish instruments such as uilleann pipes, fiddle and flute. On three tracks the Bulgarian vocal ensemble Trio Bulgarka sings along, and David Gilmour plays guitar.

The album reached number 2 in England. A Q reviewer heard an erratic collection of moods held together by her voice, with a dreamy atmosphere and solid chords in Love and Anger. In 2011 she re-recorded the title song as Flower of the Mountain, with Joyce's original text, after the estate had given permission after all.

Listening

Track list

1. 1The Sensual World3:58Apple Music ↗
2. 2Love and Anger4:42Apple Music ↗
3. 3The Fog5:07Apple Music ↗
4. 4Reaching Out3:12Apple Music ↗
5. 5Heads We're Dancing5:21Apple Music ↗
6. 6Deeper Understanding4:46Apple Music ↗
7. 7Between a Man and a Woman3:30Apple Music ↗
8. 8Never Be Mine3:45Apple Music ↗
9. 9Rocket's Tail4:07Apple Music ↗
10. 10This Woman's Work3:39Apple Music ↗
11. 11Walk Straight Down the Middle3:49Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗