This woman's work - Kate Bush

Posted by: Briz Vegas on 02 November 2011

Ok, so the reworking of this track has been out for a while.  What is the conclusion?

I've just listened to the two versions via the nDAC.  To me the original version of this song sounds easily better than the reworking.  The Sonics don't work, the vocals are a big step backwards, it has lost it's emotion and passion of the original.

I am not saying Kate has lost it, Aerial was an excellent album, one of her best.  The reworking of older songs and this idea about capturing a more musical warm analogue sound just doesn't stack up.

     I think she would have been better off looking at the Beatles box set, or the Stones Let it Bleed in HD or Paul Mcartney's Band on the Run in unlimited high def Audio.  Those recordings sound great to me and they suit the youthfulness and energy of there time.  Even as a reworking in a new style this new version does not work IMHO.
Posted on: 02 November 2011 by Guido Fawkes

Reworks rally sound better 

 

Worst offender is Jo Jo Gunne - Jay Ferguson was fantastic in Spirit and not bad of the early JJG elpees, but the rework record release a few years ago is dreadful. 

 

I'd never think of KB as descending in that way, but fond memories of her early versions are bound to give a feeling of disappointment to the reworks. That is the problem I have with live concerts, it never sounded quite as good as the studio version - John Fogerty excepted. 

Posted on: 03 November 2011 by Briz Vegas
On the live music front I have to disagree. Belle and Sebastian 2011 - great fun Gary Numan 2011 - good stuff Néw Pornographers - fun if not so good audio Sarah Blasko- always good live The trick is smaller venues and seeing the right acts. Stadium gigs are more about the crowd than the band. Other acts are a little past their use by dates. The one act I wish I had caught last year was the Cure. Reports had not been so good on recent years but the fans raved about them rediscovering how to enjoy playing live. Off to see a local act from the '90s next week. This one is a bit of an unknown but the venue is small with good sound so the odds are in favour of a better show. Without a new album I would be cautious about see K Bush live as much as I would have jumped at the chance in the past.
Posted on: 03 November 2011 by Elbow

Well there's an album of new material due any moment now (all tracks recorded against the background sound of falling snow by all accounts....how very Kate).

Of the tracks reworked on The Directors Cut, I think This Woman's Work is the least successful. But on balance most of the others actually work really well IMO.

As an aside, I have an EMI 100 vinyl version of the Hounds of Love that I hadn't played in years that I put on yesterday..what an amazing album.