“Comfort of Strangers” is Beth Orton’s first release in nearly four years, and with it she finally emerges from her raving haze which saw her collaborate with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers.
The U.K. singer/songwriter instead enlists eclectic indie icon Jim O’Rourke who produced classics like ‘Eureka’ and ‘Bad Timing’., and the result is a lovely set of pop-flavored neo-folk. Even at its most languid, Orton’s voice has always suggested hidden reserves of strength, and the new songs’ more traditional structures showcase that backbone. So do her lyrics: “I think I’m gonna cry/But I’m gonna laugh about it all in time,” she sings in the one-of-those-days lament “Shopping Trolley.” As Orton wrestles with uncertainty, hypocrisy and heartbreak, the mood ranges from wistful (“Absinthe,” “A Place Aside”) to anthemic (“Heart of Soul”). It won’t top the charts, but it’s a moving return to the limelight.
Have a look at the last time she was featured in the Brit Awards on this classic album from way back in 2003!
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