Midwinter Graces

There’s something Christmassy about Tori Amos already, so when you add harpsichords, festive string sections, jingle bells and weird folky melodies to her lovely wintery voice, it’s a nice fit. Unsurprisingly, in this combination of classic carols and thoughtful originals, the piano-playing chanteuse dwells more on the melancholy nostalgia of times past and the messianic transformation of times future, rather than the “holy fup, Santa’s coming with stuff!” side of Christmas. Sometimes she has children singing with her Cliff Richard-style (on ‘Holly, Ivy and Rose’) but generally her classic selections are drawn from the more medieval, less muzaked school of Christmas carols (‘What Child, Nowell,’ ‘Star Of Wonder’ and ‘Candle: Coventry Carol’). Meanwhile some of the originals, like ‘A Silent Night With You’ (a rumination on aging love) are classics in the making.