FEATURE:
A New Dawn Beckoning
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 2005/PHOTO CREDIT: Trevor Leighton
The Dream and Fantasy of a New Kate Bush Album
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THIS is the longest period…
since Kate Bush has released an album. I do not think that we will get an announcement this year, as I could imagine she would announce a new album in the spring or the start of summer for an autumn release. That said, you can never predict Kate Bush! I am writing this on 19th July, though it will not be shared until August, so I am aware that things could change between now and then! I do have this recurring fantasy that I know can be a reality, as Kate Bush does not know who I am and any news of a new album would come directly from her. Bush is different to other artists. Most major musicians would put out some teaser clips or they would do these various stages. With Kate Bush, there will be an announcement on her website with a release date and the first single news. That would be it. She is not going to change her dynamic and plan because of what other artists Are doing. That is a major reason to love Kate Bush. Even contemporaries who have been around as long or longer sort of conform or at least slot in to what is going on around them. Madonna and Paul McCartney spring to mind. Their release schedule and plan is very similar to younger artists. In terms of how they post videos and there is this whole cycle. It is understandable, though both could afford to be a bit more like Kate Bush. Not giving any notice and being quite old-school. I grew up pre-social media when artists would announce an album and you’d discover it through music news or the music press. There would not be this drip-feed approach. It would massive that Kate Bush released Director’s Cut six years after Aerial. That was a big period between releases, but not the longest she has left. Aerial comes to mind when thinking about Kate Bush now.
In 1993, Bush released The Red Shoes. After that came out, it is clear that she needed a period of change and stability. Her mother died in 1992 and, although she found a new love in the form of Dan McIntosh (who she is married to and has a son with, Bertie), she had experienced heartache and loss. Her work was perhaps not up to her gold standard. A sense of personal disappointment coming in. Many people felt Kate Bush was past her best and this was it. In the 1990s, so many female artists influenced by her were getting attention. The likes of Fiona Apple and Tori Amos. Seemingly fresher and more appealing, this iconic artist lost some favour and momentum. I don’t know if I was too aware of Kate Bush’s imbalance and life in the 1990s as other music was in my mind. It was a time of Britpop – or just before – and other scenes coming in. It was a big surprise when Aerial arrived in 2005. A double album, it is considered one of her masterpieces. The fact that there has been a twelve-year wait made the arrival of this album extra special and unexpected. I do think that it was a crucial moment. Now, in 2005, Bush had a young son (Bertie was born in 1998) and she was married to Dan McIntosh. Not in London, life was more stable and happier. You can see that in Aerial. One could forgive Kate Bush for waiting as long to follow up such a big album. However, 2011 is a year when she released two studio albums. Director’s Cut combined songs from The Sensual World (1989) and The Red Shoes (1993). Songs reworked and re-recorded. Kate Bush maybe not completely happy with the production on these albums. Even if it was not what fans were expecting, this retrospection was new. The first big example of Bush looking back and reworking and reassessing her music. She has reissued albums and been retrospective since, through it was quite new in 2011. 1986’s The Whole Story, her greatest hits album, the first case of retrospection.
It is interesting listening to promotional interviews around Director’s Cut. What compelled her to make the album and why she wanted to revisit those two particular albums. In November 2011, Kate Bush released 50 Words for Snow. It was such a departure from Director’s Cut. Bush wanted to revisit and correct on Director’s Cut to make space for this new album. She released two albums in 1978 – her debut, The Kick Inside, and Lionheart -, but this was a unique set of circumstances. This was in her power and in her control. A massive task to undertake, fans got this double treat in 2011. By the end of that year, Bush had technically released four albums in six years. That is not a bad average! Kate Bush has not been idle since then. In fact, I feel she has been engaging with fans and the media quite a bit. Her 2014 Before the Dawn residency was another big undertaking. She has reissued her studio albums and there has been the whole Stranger Things explosion. That was in 2022 when Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) came out. Bush directed the video for Little Shrew (Snowflake). That single was designed to raise money for War Child UK. Snowflake appeared on 50 Words for Snow. The Little Shrew character provided this representation of someone caught up ion conflict. Maybe in Ukraine. It was a wonderful project that is still raising funding for War Child UK. There has been a lot happening since 2011. However, 21st November marks fifteen years since the release of 50 Words for Snow. Going back to what I was saying about that dream announcement, I do feel it is so unlikely anyone bar Kate Bush would deliver new album news. Though I love the idea of going on a station like BBC Radio 6 Music and getting to announcement the album and the first single. Whatever happens in regards a new album, it is going to be the biggest wave of joy and excitement we will see for years. That may seem like an overstatement, but think about the gap between albums and how many new fans Kate Bush has. Upcoming artists and major acts who have talked about her work. Including Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. Her music has spread to new generations and there is going to be a very big wave of affection and delight. Even though 2005’s Aerial was met with this anticipation, I do feel that there is even more anticipation now.
I think back to 2005 and learning news of a new Kate Bush album. It sort of came out of nowhere, but when you hear interviews and she talked about her son and new family life, you can appreciate why there was this twelve-year gap. Now, with there not being that responsibility, I am not sure why there has been such a wait. Though we need to give Kate Bush time and she will put an album out when she feels fit. I would say it is likely to happen next year, yet it could be this year or 2028. As I say, you can never predict Kate Bush! No fan like me is going to get that chance to announce her new album. Only Kate Bush will do that. Not knowing exactly when is a mixed blessing. I love how she is not conforming to social media and modern promotion. Things other artists have to get momentum and traction. The sheer fact it has been nearly fifteen years since she released an album in itself will do most of the work. The sheer earthquake and the ripples it will cause. People sharing the news which will get people buying in droves. We do not know what form an album will take and whether it will be similar to Aerial or 50 Words for Snow or nod back to earlier albums. Given that I have heard some younger artists like Billie Eilish say they like earlier ‘weirder’ Kate Bush does make me wonder if she will change course and there will be this revelation. Bush turned sixty-eight on 30th July, so she is not completely going to go back to those earlier days. We are in a moment when Kate Bush’s influence is everywhere. So many artists can be traced to her. I have written about it extensively. Even if modern icons like Charli xcx are major Kate Bush fans, I doubt Bush will deliver her version of BRAT or follow Madonna back onto the dancefloor. What you will get is something uniquely Kate Bush! It will be magnificent and phenomenal. I could be wrong with my prediction, though I feel a 2027 release is not out of the question. Fifty years since she recorded her debut album, The Kick Inside, a new Kate Bush album would be timely and wonderful. Who knows what the next few months hold in that respect. That unpredictability is one of many reasons why we love Kate Bush. Her Christmas message will be out in December. If there is no new music before then, will she hint at a possible release next year?! When it comes to this music queen, who really knows…
WHAT we will get?!