And a review from the Live From Mars e-zine here
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Under The Ivy: The Life & Music of Kate Bush
"The best music biography in perhaps the past decade" - Irish Times
Reviews
The best music biography in perhaps the past decade... an absorbing, painstakingly researched and downright fascinating book.... After this magnificent read... you will come to appreciate her work that bit more. And if that isn’t the point of music biography, what is? – Irish Times
Mapping a path through the life of this enigmatic writer is not easy, but Graeme Thomson's superb book manages to do just that.... A compelling examination of an artist in a constant state of becoming - Mojo
A masterful biography. Thomson's descriptive language is gorgeous.... he delves into lost parts of her career with glee – Jude Rogers, The Word
Meticulously reconstructs Bush's career through diligent research and fine writing - Allan Jones, Uncut
Respectful, fascinating and full of insight... Thomson gets beyond the traditional party line [and] challenges the perception of Bush as some waif-like ingénue – Mark Blake, Q magazine
[An] excellent biography.... expertly unravelling her contradictions and motivations. In addition to his faultless research... Thomson’s prose is often as rich and as eloquent as Bush’s own writing - Terry Staunton, Record Collector
A thoughtful and rewarding book... Thomson does [her artistry] justice with some fine writing.... he is excellent on Bush’s ethereal early life as he drives at the mysteries of her creativity – Jon Hotten, Classic Rock
...an exhaustive and engaging account of Bush's career... Thomson proves an insightful critic, weaving cohesive threads from Bush’s scatter cushion themes - Metro
Thomson has done a fantastic amount of research, is extremely sympathetic to his subject, and... can hit on exactly the right thing to say – Toby Litt, New Statesman
Under the Ivy presents a different portrait [than] the tabloid press caricature.... A plausible picture emerges of a hippyish, perfectionist individual, single-minded in her artistic vision and unaffected by fame - Ludovic Hunter-Tilney, Financial Times
Sensitive, empathetic and exceptionally well-researched biography... the impressive roster of musicians, studio personnel and industry figures who agreed to talk to him speaks for itself – John O’Connell, The National
Thomson’s book sheds a light on the women behind the inspiration of many a modern-day chanteuse – NME
Meticulously analyses outstanding moments... debunking myths of the ethereal sprite and the dotty recluse – The Herald
PR at Omnibus Press:
Charlie.Harris@musicsales.co.uk
About Me
- Graeme Thomson
- I make a living writing about music and other things for the Guardian, The Word, Uncut, the Observer, New Statesman and the Herald. I've written four books: Complicated Shadows: The Life & Music of Elvis Costello (Canongate, 2004); Willie Nelson: The Outlaw (Virgin, 2006); I Shot a Man in Reno (Continuum, 2008) and Under The Ivy: The Life & Music of Kate Bush, due in May 2010 through Omnibus Press.