The pedigree is undeniable; a 22 year career, 12 million album sales and eight Grammy nominations. On her twelfth studio album Tori Amos returns to her classical roots.
Night of Hunters, as the title suggests, is suitably dark. The lyrics are whimsical, as Amos weaves a tale of a shape-shifting fox that The Brothers Grimm would be proud to call their own.
She has dubbed Night of Hunters a ‘classical song cycle’, incorporating samples of Schubert and Satie amongst her own original compositions.
The album is laden with heavy orchestration alongside the skilled piano playing we have come to expect from Amos, as well as string quartet, clarinet and bassoon.
Opener Shattering Sea is a thundering, dramatic affair, which stands alongside classics of her past and acts as a quick reminder to why she has stood the test of time.
Job’s Coffin finds Tori’s daughter joining her as lead vocalist and is the high point of the album. Natashya Hawley’s innocent tone is a welcoming contrast to mum’s more seasoned voice.
Scattered with delicate symphonies and a kooky narrative, Night of Hunters is not an album to have on in the background while you go about your day.
It requires numerous spins and, at 72 minutes, a lot of time to fully appreciate its intricacies. Hardcore Amos fans will no doubt put in the time but for the casual listener it may be a bridge too far.
Night of Hunters is released on Monday 26th Sept on Deutsche Grammophon records.