Note: Don’t forget, if you wish to order the vinyl edition of Hounds of Love at the Audio Fidelity store here my site visitors can use the following code at check-out (enter it into the coupon code section of the check-out screen) to receive a tasty 20% discount: The coupon code to use at the Audio Fidelity checkout for this item is: hounds9th. Again, thanks to Audio Fidelity for doing this. This coupon code can be used till the end of September.
According to Wikipedia, an audiophile is “a hobbyist who seeks high-quality audio reproduction via the use of specialized high-end audio electronics.” Clearly, I am a “vinyl-lover” and not an audiophile then, but either way I was very happy to receive my copy of the new Hounds of Love on vinyl yesterday. I’ve been trying to confirm whether this is the very first time it has been issued in a gatefold sleeve like this? Was it released in some territory in that format? South America? Answers to the usual address, please. In any case it looks very nice and sounds really superb. I found the discussions on Steve Hoffman’s site about this release quite enlightening. Steve is the highly-respected guy who mastered the album, in fact Kate has just recently personally approved the test pressing he created of The Sensual World for Audio Fidelity. Kate insists on personally approving the test pressings each time (you may remember the Aerial vinyl release was initially delayed a little till the pressing was to Kate’s satisfaction). A consensus seems to be emerging about the vinyl being “exceptionally quiet”, which I take to mean no crackles and pops etc. One comment says: “Kate’s vocals were clear, the background voices and effects were distinct, the instruments sounded perfect. For example, the double bass on Under Ice was so real and clear that you can easily hear the difference between each note that Danny Thompson played. Lots of air between the instruments here – no muddy sound.” Read more discussion at Steve’s forum here. This is all making me think that I need to invest in a better record player!
Steve Hoffman (right) at work
Other than that I keep coming across very positive reviews and mentions for Graeme Thomson’s new biography of Kate, “Under The Ivy”. Most recently Thomson gave a radio interview to Phantom FM here in Dublin, as they celebrated the 25th anniversary of Running Up That Hill (nice in-studio version of the song by the band Ham Sandwich too!) A book like this presents a slight dilemma for me. On the one hand, we know very well that Kate doesn’t approve of books like this about her and finds them intrusive, and as far as their veracity is concerned, anecdotal at best. As such, those closest to Kate and Kate herself have never co-operated with the writers of biographies. On the other hand, this is clearly the best written, most well researched and critically applauded biography of Kate yet released. There is nothing mean-spirited within its pages and the book respects and celebrates Kate’s work without losing perspective. I found it intelligent and very fair. As a teenager it was the “Visual Documentary” book by Kevin Cann and Sean Mayes that first opened my eyes to the story and influences behind Kate’s work. I lapped it up. I think that similarly, someone discovering Kate’s music for the first time or the casual music fan wanting to know more will be filled with nothing but admiration for Kate once they’ve read this book. Make up your own minds, and let me know what you think if you decide to read it. More at the author’s blog 
Coupon code details: If you wish to go ahead and order the vinyl edition of Hounds of Love at the Audio Fidelity store 
Some sad news. The Scottish musician, Morris Pert, was found dead at his home in Balchrick on Tuesday, aged 62. He had worked with Kate on some of her most famous recordings, including percussion on the songs Strange Phenomena, Kite, Wuthering Heights, Breathing and The Big Sky; Boo Bams on the song Room For the Life and timpani on the song All We Ever Look For. On Kate’s 1977 recording of Wuthering Heights he played crotals, similar to disc-shaped glockenspiels. His studio session work included recordings with Paul McCartney, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, John Williams, Mike Oldfield, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins. Morris was described as a shy, retiring man who lived quietly in his chalet near Kinlochbervie. In 1977 America’s Billboard magazine voted him the fourth best jazz and rock percussionist in the world, and the famous drummer Buddy Rich said he was one of the greatest drummers he had ever played with. He produced five CDs and wrote three major symphonies and featured on many BBC radio programmes. In recent years he was seen contributing to the Kate Bush: Under Review DVD documentary (you can see Morris talking about the Kick Inside sessions towards the end of this clip 
Older news I missed, sorry! Kate pays tribute to her friend Peter Gabriel in the April edition of MOJO magazine. “The art-rock guru looks back on his astonishing 40-year career. From fronting progressive masters Genesis to solo pop success, his is a story of restless toil and adventure. With a new album set for release in March, Gabriel guides us through a unique life in music. PLUS! Kate Bush, Elbow and Vampire Weekend salute the legend!”