When I reviewed Tori Amos’ new classical-inspired album, Night Of Hunters, I said: “I hope the powers that be at Deutsche Grammophon can convince Tori to record a purely classical album next time around.” My wish has been granted with the label’s release of an exquisite instrumental version of the album entitled Sin Palabras (Without Words).
Sin Palabras has all of the strengths of Night Of Hunters, yet none of the weaknesses that plagued that album’s vocal trickery and lyrical fantasy. As a result, even songs that I found irksome in their original form – such as “Cactus Practice,” which incorporates Chopin’s “Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1″ – sound absolutely lovely sans vocals.
This gorgeous instrumental version illuminates all of the intricacies and nuances of the arrangements. The brilliance of Tori’s piano playing, as well as that of her accompanying orchestra musicians, is put on full and stunning display.
Following is the track list for Sin Palabras along with the classical works sampled in each song:
1. Shattering Sea (Alkan: Song of the Madwoman on the Sea-Shore, Prelude op. 31 no. 8 )
2. SnowBlind (Granados: Añoranza – from 6 Pieces on Spanish Folksongs)
3. Battle of Trees (Satie: Gnossienne no. 1)
4. Fearlessness (Granados: Orientale from 12 Spanish Dances)
5. Cactus Practice (Chopin: Nocturne op. 9 no. 1)
6. Star Whisperer (Schubert: Andantino from Piano Sonata in A major D 959)
7. Job’s Coffin
8. Nautical Twilight (Mendelssohn: Venetian Boat Song from Songs Without Words op. 30)
9. Your Ghost (Schumann: Theme and Variations in E flat major WoO 24 from Ghost Variations)
10. Edge of the Moon (Bach: Siciliano from Flute Sonata BWV 1031)
11. The Chase (Mussorgsky: The Old Castle from Pictures at an Exhibition)
12. Night of Hunters (Scarlatti: Sonata in F minor, K.466 and the Gregorian Chant “Salva Regina”)
13. Seven Sisters (Bach: Prelude in C minor)
14. Carry (Debussy: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, from Preludes I)
Whether you loved or hated Night of the Hunters, or experienced mixed feelings as I did, I highly recommend Sin Palabras. It’s one of the most beautiful recordings I’ve ever heard. So much so that I added it to my Top 25 Albums of 2011, which already included Night of the Hunters.
BUY @ AMAZON
![Night of Hunters (Sin Palabras) [Instrumental Without Words] - Tori Amos](http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/web/linkmaker/badge_itunes-sm.gif){kind=icon}
era, this is the lilting, pre-
alto of the real Tori Amos.
‘s “Baker Baker.” More than any other song on the album, it perfectly marries Tori’s signature sound with this new classical experimentation. It’s a gorgeous, multi-layered composition that ebbs and flows in gentle waves of delicate melancholy and bombastic drama. Whether you like Tori Amos or classical music or none of the above, it’s simply a great song – full stop.
‘s “1,000 Oceans” – is the album’s finale and finds Tori finally, thankfully returning to the simple, lovely, girl with a piano sound that we first came to know and love. The official press release for the video said it required a Facebook account (Artists, please stop doing that! Fans shouldn’t have to join a site with such security/privacy issues to hear your music), but fortunately 
turned out to be a bit controversial. I expected some would question my choice, but it still came as a surprise that Tori continues to be a such polarizing figure in the music world. Several people refused to even attempt to listen to the album this week since they despise her so much.
went very well. Though the second half of the album isn’t nearly as strong as the first (which opens with the back to back singles “Where The Streets Have No Name, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “With Or Without You”), it was a fun listen from beginning to end. I wish U2 hadn’t stopped mixing rock and blues (where’d the harmonica go?) into their pop music, because they used to be truly great. We’ll keep moving ahead on the classics timeline…
