"I wanted to make a treasure, something people will value", says Tori Amos on her stunning new album 'Abnormally Attracted To Sin' - released on her new label Island Records, on May 18th.
"AATS" is indeed a treasure. An elaborate feast made from home-grown stock, offered up to a generation fed on small meals made with cheap ingredients. "AATS" is Amos at her most passionate and most comfortable.
The album has a typically detailed and wide sound, dominated by dark, rich reds and hints of silver ("I want to make audio mescaline" Tori said). The mood is dark but charged, like a late night conversation (or confession) held over several bottles of wine.
"AATS" (the title is taken from a line in "Guys & Dolls" spoken by the character Sarah Brown) is the work of someone who knows, with fierce certainty, what she believes in. Anybody, whether it's a newcomer or a lifelong member of Tori's phenomenal fanbase, will feel that certainty.
The 18 tracks on "AATS" were recorded in Cornwall by Tori's husband Mark Hawley and his partner Marcel Van Limbeek. They are:
Give / Welcome To England / Strong Black Vine / Flavour / Not Dying Today / Maybe California / Curtain Call / Fire To Your Plain / Police Me / That Guy / Abnormally Attracted To Sin / 500 Miles / Mary Jane / Starling / Fast Horse / Ophelia / Lady In Blue / Oscar's Theme (bonus track – UK only).
There will be a covetable deluxe edition of the album which features a bonus DVD containing 16 "visualettes" directed by Christian Lamb (who filmed Tori and her band during the "American Doll Posse" tour).
A single, "Welcome To England" – taken from the album – will be released on May 25th.
Tori will be playing a one-off solo acoustic show at London's Savoy Theatre on April 27th where she will be performing tracks from "AATS" as well as songs from her back-catalogue.