Over two decades ago, Beth Orton attracted a fervent fan base off the back of sporadic commercial exposure and they’ve not budged an inch as the years raged on. An enduring crossover spirit in the indie folk scene, it’s often been hard to simply pigeonhole Orton’s music and in new release, Sugaring Season, it doesn’t get any easier.
Through the album, there is a definite Irish influence and in tracks such as upbeat album opener Magpie and Poison Tree violins carry Orton’s voice through a layered, traditional arrangement. Generally, however, there is a distinctly ‘Orton’ sound kept true release upon release, and it’s on the strength of this musicianship that people keep coming back for more.
One of the highlights of Sugaring Season and a shining example of what Orton does best, Candles skulks along a bed of guitars and piano, strings lifting the forlorn hook: “Morning comes, what’s done is done, you just found another way to cry”. Not generally the most positive album – Orton specialises in depression – it’s still amazing how seductively she gets you down.
Proving she’s not just a one-trick pony, tracks like Call Me the Breeze explore her more poppy, indie folk side, while See Through Blue comes close to polka territory with its feature accordion and happy-go-lucky old school rhythm. It’s typically Orton to throw something in there, something as charming as it is disarming. Perhaps that’s how Orton translates happiness – all a bit fantastical.
Overall, Sugaring Season certainly doesn’t push any boundaries or offer a particularly new side to that we’ve already seen from Orton. It does, however, serve to concrete her as a light that refuses to fade or fawn in today’s music business, and as long as people keep recognising her true abilities, she’ll not be tossed to into the ‘has-been’ pile anytime soon.
BY JEN WILSON
Best Track: Candle
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: FIONA APPLE, CAT POWER, THE AUDREYS
In A Word: Orton
