Although six years is a long time to wait for a new recording, I am fairly glad that Tanita did not rush out another album after The Cappuccino Songs. I am inclined to think of that particular album as something of an identity crisis for Tanita, and I would rather see her (or any artist, for that matter) retreat from the spotlight than produce poor or inconsistent work. I do not doubt that she has used this time productively. With any luck the break will be as productive as the three years between Eleven Kinds of Loneliness and Lovers in the City.
It is true that Tanita's fanbase is beginning to resemble those poor devoted souls who have been waiting eleven years for Kate Bush's next record. Like Ms. Bush's fans, I think we can take pride in the fact that the object of our affection is not compelled to labour under the misconception that her relevence is linked to the number of units of new product she is pushing through the shops.
