Beth Orton

Beth Orton has long been regarded as possessing one of the most unique and expressive voices in music – a voice that has grown evermore rich and wise over time. Her 1996 debut, Trailer Park, pioneered a synthesis of electronic and acoustic sounds, while its 1999 follow-up, Central Reservation, garnered international success. Further albums like the Jim O’Rourke-produced Comfort of Strangers and 2016’s largely electronic Kidsticks deepened the breadth of her craft. After struggling with incorrectly diagnosed health issues for years, she was finally able to begin managing her condition with medication after the correct diagnosis. These experiences turned into the self-produced Weather Alive. Described by The Line of Best Fit as “far and away her best album,” the songs on this stunning release are nothing more than her voice and a “cheap, crappy” upright piano installed in a shed in her garden, conjuring a deeply meditative atmosphere that remains long after the final note has evaporated.