Hounds of Love is a perfect example of when artistic ambition meets the pop music framework. Showcasing her chameleonic vocal range—from guttural growls to ethereal whispers—Bush pushed the boundaries of pop with lush, experimental production and deeply evocative storytelling. But where it gets really special is the prog-rock concept album nature of it all (which was kind of a first for a pop album)– the album is split into two halves comprising the accessible, hook-driven first side and second side (subtitled The Ninth Wave) which is a conceptual suite that woman drifting alone in the sea at night and immerses you in a dreamlike journey of self-discovery. Bush actually built her own recording studio to gain complete creative control over the album, allowing her to craft its intricate soundscapes without record label interference and ensure her vision came to fruition.
More recently Bush experienced a massive resurgence in popularity when the lead track “Running Up That Hill” was prominently featured in Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things, introducing her music to an entirely new generation of listers. The song’s inclusion not only sent it soaring up global charts nearly 40 years after its release but also re-introduced the public to Bush’s knack for crafting art pop songs that still are hooky as hell.
Standout Songs: “Running Up That Hill”, “Hounds of Love”, “Cloudbusting”, “Under Ice”
