Kate Bush: Hounds of Love – ‘Cloudbusting’, ‘And Dream of Sheep’ and ‘Under Ice’

Question 1

Who is Kate Bush?

Answer 1

Kate Bush was born in Kent, in 1958. Her early music came to the attention of Dave Gilmour (guitarist with Pink Floyd) who recommended her to the record company EMI, who signed Kate at 16.

Question 2

Cloudbusting: Describe the main accompaniment?

Answer 2

• Short staccato chords, creating a strong crotchet pulse (reminiscent of the strings in the Beatles’ ‘Eleanor Rigby’)
• Violin riff signals the start of the chorus each time (bar 18)
• Violin countermelody (in octaves) in verse 2 (bar 34).

Question 3

Cloudbusting: What is sampled to create a backing ostinato in the bridge?

Answer 3

Treated vocal sample

Question 4

Cloudbusting: What key is the song in?

Answer 4

C♯ minor

Question 5

Cloudbusting: Describe the strings section.

Answer 5

Homorhythmic string chords articulate a crotchet pulse for most of the song, broken only (for effect) at the end of the bridge sections.

Question 6

Cloudbusting: Describe the texture in the chorus’.

Answer 6

More polyphonic feel in chorus, where violin riff acts as a counterpoint to the vocal phrases.

Question 7

Cloudbusting: What is the tempo?

Answer 7

♩=112

Question 8

Cloudbusting: What is the time signature/metre?

Answer 8

Mostly simple quadruple in verse and chorus, but with bars of 6/4 used to extend phrases. The Bridge uses 3/2 for variety.