03-05-2026, 12:58
TORI AMOS ~ In Times of Dragons
![[Image: 250px-In_Times_of_Dragons.jpg]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3f/In_Times_of_Dragons.jpg/250px-In_Times_of_Dragons.jpg)
Simplistic is not a label that can be applied to Ms Amos. This album relies heavily on metaphor which I suspect is as applied to her own life and experience, as well as that of the world at large and the current quandaries around the future of democracy. There is both political and personal commentary all interwoven into what could almost be regarded as a novella in musical form, with a storyline of sorts. And there is reference to myth and mystical beasties aplenty, cheek by jowl with earthy realities. Dragons and their characteristics, and the legends surrounding them is a bulky subject, and I’m not sure that I am possessed of the requisite intellectual capacity to interpret each and every track in context. To me, though, that is not the reason for listening – it’s essentially the music I’m after, and no doubt the attendant information will percolate and filter into my brain in due course.
Tori Amos produced the album and I simply love the inclusion of the harpsichord in a places. Also notable is Mark Hawley’s guitar which is very pleasing to the ear. It’s a family affair, with daughter Natashya Hawley contributing vocals on several numbers.
I must say that generally, the voices are difficult to ignore and the premise for the album is somewhat intriguing, my final pronouncement being that it is a quality offering in all respects – just over 75 minutes in total.
Here is the title track ...
... and the closer ...
Simplistic is not a label that can be applied to Ms Amos. This album relies heavily on metaphor which I suspect is as applied to her own life and experience, as well as that of the world at large and the current quandaries around the future of democracy. There is both political and personal commentary all interwoven into what could almost be regarded as a novella in musical form, with a storyline of sorts. And there is reference to myth and mystical beasties aplenty, cheek by jowl with earthy realities. Dragons and their characteristics, and the legends surrounding them is a bulky subject, and I’m not sure that I am possessed of the requisite intellectual capacity to interpret each and every track in context. To me, though, that is not the reason for listening – it’s essentially the music I’m after, and no doubt the attendant information will percolate and filter into my brain in due course.
Tori Amos produced the album and I simply love the inclusion of the harpsichord in a places. Also notable is Mark Hawley’s guitar which is very pleasing to the ear. It’s a family affair, with daughter Natashya Hawley contributing vocals on several numbers.
I must say that generally, the voices are difficult to ignore and the premise for the album is somewhat intriguing, my final pronouncement being that it is a quality offering in all respects – just over 75 minutes in total.
Here is the title track ...
... and the closer ...
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson