I've had a few days now of listening to the new Tori Amos album 'Night Of Hunters' and I'm slowly getting into it. This one is a grower - not many songs grabbed me upon first listen. I'm getting a massive kick out of 'The Battle Of Trees' of course, given that I so recently finished reading 'The White Goddess', and the Beth-Luis-Nion alphabet is even listed with the lyrics in the CD liner!
Also, 'The Chase' clearly draws on Celtic shape-shifter tales, like the one of Ceridwen chasing Gwion Bach through various shapes (he a hare, she a greyhound, he a fish, she an otter, he a bird, she a hawk), until he finally changes into a grain of corn. She becomes a hen and swallows him, becoming pregnant, giving birth to Taliesin nine months later. But the whole rebirth theme is not obviously included in the song, so I'm wondering where that got to... hmmmm.... This one may need to grow on me a bit more :) Incidentally, this song is also basing itself on the only classical piece here that I know, namely one from Mussorgsky's 'Pictures At An Exhibition'.
All songs on this record bar one are taking their cue from existing classical pieces, and the songs form a cycle dealing with a break-up, charting the night after the man departs from the house in Ireland where they were staying, leaving the woman behind. No-one does concept albums quite like Tori does! So much food for your mind and imagination - love it!
I am so looking forward to seeing her live next week (and hoping very much she'll do that U2 cover, 'Running To Stand Still', which has been cropping up on set lists recently).
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