BETH ORTON
Jan 1, 2006 12:00 PM, Bill Murphy
It's been three years since singer-songwriter-guitarist Beth Orton has released a proper studio album — a fact that, combined with her unexpected cancellation of a high-profile outdoor show in London this past summer, has raised concerns for her well-being among her devoted online fan base. (Orton has long waged a battle with Crohn's disease and was reported in March 2005 by the UK's Independent to have emerged from a bout with depression.)
As it turns out, it's more than likely that Orton's flurry of activity in the studio (which included sessions for Massive Attack's next album) is what kept her out of the spotlight for much of 2005. In September, KCRW in Los Angeles added a new track called “Conceived” to its playlists, confirming reports that Orton had been working with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke (formerly of Sonic Youth) on her forthcoming album, Comfort of Strangers (Astralwerks, 2006), which will feature “Comfort of Strangers,” “Pieces of Sky,” “Heartland Truckstop” and other material that she has performed in concert but never recorded. Given that Orton has collaborated with an A-list of producers, ranging from the Chemical Brothers to William Orbit to Ben Watt, it seems only natural that she would gravitate to O'Rourke. His sound, which captures live and often improvised performances in a rich palette of analog warmth, has made him a favorite among the avant-rock crowd, complementing Orton's uncanny ability to set a mood, whether dark or uplifting. Look out for a U.S. tour with her new band this spring.
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