“The Sensual World is the greatest album. I could listen to that one forever. Which is handy.”
Twitter informed me today that Running Up that Hill by Kate Bush has been propelled to the top of itunes, following its appearance in Stranger Things. So now seemed like a good time to reflect on Holly’s favourite artist.
“Why Kate Bush?” was a question posed at my launch. I suppose the answer is that she’s a storyteller. There’s something ancient about the idea of narrative song which is perfect for a centuries-old character like Holly. That Holly would seek a touchstone to hold onto herself in the face of an ever-changing world made sense – and of course she would gravitate to someone as theatrical and dismissive of prevailing winds as she is.
Or maybe, as she points out, The Sensual World is just a hell of an album.
So, time to do the obvious thing, and present the Ghosts of York Kate Bush playlist – the tracks that chimed especially with the writing, and which you might like to listen to while giving it a read.
The Sensual World I had to start with the one that Holly name checks as a favourite and even sings to her enemies. It’s very her – emerging gleefully from the shadows to embrace a world of possibilities in a swirl of pipes and bells.
Hounds of Love If that’s Holly’s theme, this is definitely Mira’s, all about the push and pull when the things we desire also scare the hell out of us, but you’ve just got to go for it anyway.
Waking the Witch On a less radio-friendly note, the delirious soundscape that gave the book it’s original title, casting you adrift in time as gentle memories slide into past life flashbacks of a bestial witch hunter baying death and judgement. A fantasy novel in of itself.
The Kick Inside Inspired by an old folk tale about an incestuous love affair, this is a haunting song of painful change wrought for the greater good, and people left behind on a hopeless promise. In my head, this was always what Holly is listening to in chapter 21.
How to Be Invisible A bit of actual urban fantasy, as Kate cooks up a spell for hiding in plain sight out of everyday things, and warns of a mysterious unseen world surrounding us that is not to be ventured into lightly…
Rocket’s Tail Are fireworks sad because they are fleeting or happy because they are beautiful? That’s what divides the characters in this slice of raucous melancholy. One for Holly and Erin’s difficult relationship.
King of the Mountain I had to end with this one, because of course she’s written a song about the King in the Mountain mythology, drawing parallels between Arthur returning from Avalon and Elvis being spotted down the chip shop. Old gods don’t die, they just rebrand.
Ben Sawyer 
One thought on “Stepping Out, Off the Page”
Comments are closed.