Tori Amos: In Times Of Dragons
Tori Amos is back with her new album having started her UK tour in April in Sheffield the new album is finally with us and it’s a politically charged, atmospheric, at times menacing and yet also hopeful, full throttle consideration of where the world is going, how it might get there and what it might all mean.
Words - Iain McClay
If all you know about Tori is 'Cornflake Girl' or 'Professional Widow', where have you been? She’s a proficient singer, musician and writer with a string of wonderful songs to her name. Her singing on this album is as good as its ever been, the playing immense and the lyrics questioning, insightful and thought provoking.
The album itself opens with 'Shush', starting with trademark impressive piano chords but rapidly becoming something altogether menacing, gothic in its feel and claustrophobic but also retaining a beauty that draws you in and start to care about the singer and what might happen but you also realise she needs to get out of the situation she is in.
I won’t review every song as you should really discover this album on your own and will find your own favourites, but the third song, 'Provincetown', is very evocative of Kate Bush in its atmosphere and singing. I found myself being drawn in and completely immersed in it.
The whole album is based on a fantastical journey which is an allegory for the journey many may need to go on as our world changes. based on an imagined threat to freedom and the desire of a small group of very rich men to control the world and return it to a form of feudalism. To counter this the fictional character Tori inhabits throughout the album is slowly along with others morphing into a dragon capable of defeating this plan.
The imagery represents the perceived struggles against those who would threaten democracy, women’s rights and the rights of all without extreme wealth. It is very much an eloquent rage against the patriarchy, the concentration of extreme wealth but also includes a couple of very upbeat songs about what happens when people band together to resist, to look after each other and fight back.
Interestingly Tori’s daughter, Tash, co-wrote and writes on some of the songs which shows whatever else Tori might pass on to her child she’s passed on her talent and love of music.
There are some interesting musical styles chosen, 'Fanny Faudrey' for instance which could easily be from the 1920’s and has a real folksy feeling to it but also a jazzy element.
The themes that run though the songs on this album are togetherness, hope, love and the need to stand strong and believe. There is an acceptance that things sometimes have to get worse to get better and you have to accept the pain to find the joy.
I think the most interesting metaphor used however is the use of the evolution to the dragon, while ostensibly its about fighting the destruction of democracy and togetherness it’s also about menopause and the changes that women go through, often on their own with not enough support.
If you listen to this album and don’t find any moments of beauty in it, you may need to check if you have a soul. Tori has created a story and a world that she uses to make the points she wants to but all with lyrics, singing and a soundscape this is lush, almost transcendent at times and yet insistent, lively and quite simply beautiful.
Maybe some good has come from the chaotic world we live in after all?
Listen to this album on Spotify here:
