Beth Orton - Central Reservation

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Beth Orton's songwriting is based around folksy acoustic guitar-arrangements, but her dabbling in the world of electronic music has led to a number of collaborations; Orton sang on tracks for both Chemical Brothers albums, and contributed the vocals to Red Snapper's "In Deep."

Still, it's the simple quality and genuine emotion behind Orton's own songs that makes her so endearing. Live, she breaks the often mournful tone of her music with bursts of laughter and witty self-deprecating remarks in between songs.

Her debut album Trailer Park revealed her as a challenger to the thrones held by the likes of Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Merchant.

On Central Reservation, Orton makes good on the recent hype generated by the music press, presenting a set of songs more stripped down than the last batch. Ben Harper adds guitars on two tracks, in what comes off as a mutual nod of respect between equally talented fellow musical travelers.

- doug levy