Kate Bush: "Rubberband Girl" (E.M.I.)

Apart from her own body of work, which I always feel contains a uniquely feminine politique that enables her to transcend thrashy commercialisation, I also feel forever indebted to Bush for introducing me to the astonishing Trio Bulgarka on her The Sensual World album. A change of style is nothing new for Kate but, initially, I wasn't too sure that it was necessarily for the better on this occasion. However, after repeated listening what first appears like one-pacedness actually succeeds, with the help of an almost traditionally British dose of eccentricity applied by Bush, in insinuating 'Rubberband Girl' in under your skin and wrapping it around your aesthetic earlobes. Which is not as painful as you might think, especially thanks to the bonus track 'Big Stripey Lie'.