| America's queen of avant-garde adult pop follows up 2003's Tales Of A Librarian best-of collection with this, her seventh studio album. On this self-produced and recorded release, Amos has been inspired by the classic sound of the Hammond organ, which she uses liberally throughout, along with Afro-Cuban drums and gospel choirs. It has been over two years since musical force Tori Amos has brought new music to her ever-growing foundation of dedicated fans. On February 22nd Tori Amos unveiled two exciting projects- a new CD entitled The Beekeeper and her first book Tori Amos: Piece by Piece, co-written with journalist Ann Powers.
Tori self-produced The Beekeeper in her UK studio Martian Engineering. On songs like "Sweet the Sting," "Sleeps with Butterflies," and "Ribbons Undone," Tori incorporates vintage organs, Afro-Cuban drums and Gospel choirs, working once again with longtime partners, drummer Matt Chamberlain and bassist Jon Evans.
Tori Amos explains, "The Beekeeper is musically inspired by the fact that the piano has realized that she has an organ. With my right hand on her organ and my left hand on her piano keys, I have been changed by the relationship between these two beautiful creatures, the Bosendorfer piano and the B3 Hammond organ."
In the book Tori Amos: Piece by Piece co-penned with writer Ann Powers, the usually private Tori gives a rare inside look into many intimacies of her life as both a private individual and a very public performing musician.
Tori Amos, whose career skyrocketed with the release of the 1992 multi- platinum breakthrough Little Earthquakes, has led the charge in rejuvenating the era of the female singer songwriter. With worldwide record sales topping 12 million and multiple Grammy nominations, Tori continues to be one of the most intriguing and respected artists of our time.
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Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Tori Amos (vocals, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Damien Rice (vocals); Mac Aladdin (guitar); Jon Evans (bass instrument); Matt Chamberlain (drums); London Community Gospel Choir, Kelsey Dobyns (background vocals). | | Like Tori Amos's previous studio album, SCARLET'S WALK, THE BEEKEEPER is a largely stripped-down affair that places emphasis on the singer's heavily conceptual lyrics and supple voice. The basic backing band from the former disc returns, and the musicians' ease with Amos's music gives the record a relaxed, natural feel. | | Throughout, the music is melodic, inviting, and sometimes even danceable. "Sweet the Sting" mixes church organ with an old-school soul beat and Latin percussion, resulting in a track that has less in common with Amos's usual overt sexuality and more with Barry White-style make-out music. "Sleeps with Butterflies" is a gently jazzy soft-rocker, while "Jamaica Inn" recalls the deceptively dark folkiness of Nick Drake. Lyrically, the album draws heavily from ancient religious texts, with an emphasis on women's role in Christianity a la THE DA VINCI CODE. One of Amos's most reflective albums, THE BEEKEEPER is also one of her most intensely thought-provoking outings. |
Producer: Tori Amos |
Engineer: Marcel Van Limbeek; Mark Hawley |
Musical Guests | | Damien Rice |
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