In the summer of 1983, Kate Bush began recording Hounds of Love at home using 8-track equipment, with sessions starting in November 1983 and continuing into 1984. After several recording sessions in Ireland, the album was mixed and overdubbed over the next year, completed in June 1985. It features the Fairlight CMI synthesizer, piano, traditional Irish instruments, and layered vocals, with a choral segment from the Georgian song "Tsintskaro" and a sample from the film Night of the Demon. The album is divided into two suites: Hounds of Love and The Ninth Wave, a seven-track concept piece exploring themes of death and rebirth. The Ninth Wave blends classical and progressive rock elements, with Bush embracing European music traditions.