The Dreaming  by Kate Bush

The Dreaming is the fourth studio album by Kate Bush and is considered the most experimental and daring work of her career. The creation of the album took almost two years (1980-1982), a period that Bush herself has described as the "most difficult experience" of her life. It is the first album where Kate Bush fully took on the production, seeking absolute control of her sound. The album was released on September 13, 1982, by EMI Records.

The musical style of the album moves between art rock, post-punk, and experimental pop. The compositions are dense, with intense variations in Bush's voice, who often portrays different characters. Kate Bush is the sole and exclusive composer of the songs. The lyrics explore dark stories, such as the life of Harry Houdini, the Vietnam War (Pull Out The Pin), and the plight of Australia's Aboriginal people. The cover of The Dreaming is one of the most iconic and theatrical images to appear on album covers. The photograph depicts a scene from the life of the famous magician Harry Houdini. Bush portrays Houdini's wife, Bess. She holds a golden key in her mouth, which she is about to pass to him with a kiss, so he can escape from his chains (!) The man shown from the back on the cover (as Houdini) is Del Palmer, who was the bassist, sound engineer, and then-partner of Kate Bush.

Although reviews at the time of the album's release were mixed, today The Dreaming is considered a masterpiece and has influenced artists such as Björk and Big Boi. It is considered her least commercial album at the time, remaining on the charts for only 12 weeks and receiving silver certification in the United Kingdom. Despite its "non-commercial" nature, the album reached No. 3 on the UK charts.