New album draws Bush into limelight: 12-year wait over as EMI delivers elusive star's Aerial.(Talent)

Kate Bush was never going to be the easiest proposition for the regimented record industry to get its head around and her latest album, the long-awaited follow-up to 1993's The Red Shoes, is proving to be no exception.

A 14-track double album, Aerial has been a three-year labour of love for the artist who shot to number one with her debut single Wuthering Heights in 1978 aged just 17.

Clocking in at more than 90 minutes, it represents a big statement from somebody who has been out of the spotlight for the best part of 12 years, but listening to the record it is obvious she has lost none of her charm. Whether singing about her washing machine, using Pi's infinite numerical sequence as a chorus or recruiting Rolf Harris for a spot of role-playing as The Painter, it is as fascinating as it is powerful.

Guests on the album include the late Michael Kamen, who in his last recording project before his death in November 2003 provided some orchestration, long-time collaborator Del Palmer, Lol Creme of IOCC and percussionist Bosco D'Oliveira.

Ty-pically, EMI--which has been with her since the start of her recording career--has had to contend with Bush's desire to keep her promotion to a bare minimum as it plots a campaign for the album, which is released on next Monday (November 7). She has toured just once, playing 22 dates in the UK and Europe back in the spring of 1979, while for this new album she agreed to undertake only one face-to-face interview.

However, despite the lack of access to the artist, EMI Records managing director Terry Felgate is convinced the company can reap the benefits of an ever more targeted marketing and promotional strategy. "There is going to be limited promotion on Kate but, as a result of that, everything she does becomes bigger. Less is more. You see everything Kate does suddenly become very special" he says.

EMI Recorded Music chairman and CEO Tony Wadsworth, who has known Bush since 1998 and has been the major's principal contact with her during her lengthy time away, says the important thing is building on the platform of awareness that already exists among fans. "In launching the album I think that you accept that there is a huge amount of anticipation and you build on that," he says. "She has a great catalogue--there are very few artists that have never disappointed their fans but Kate is one of them and you cannot underestimate the power of that with the buying public."