When Beth Orton released her debut album, Trailer Park, it revealed a singer-songwriter with not only raw acoustic sensibilities, but it also offered a snapshot of London’s vibrant electronic scene. The album offered Orton a chance to explore her newly found voice, express her love of folk, and tip her hat to the landscape she had grown up in.
"I had an entire life before I became a singer, but around about the time I found out I could sing, I was very drawn to singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake," Orton recalls. "But I was also going out clubbing. I was part of a whole world here in London that had nothing to do with folk music. For me it would have felt disingenuous to make a purely folk record."
The immense success and positive reception of that debut gave Beth the confidence she needed to step wholeheartedly into the genre on her follow-up record, establishing herself as one of the great modern folk singer-songwriters.
Central Reservation, released in 1999, is an all-in, strings-laden album featuring guitar, bass, violin, cello, viola, and even a traditional Greek lute known as a bouzouki. With stunning keys and some deeply intimate themes, Central Reservation was a sublime counterpoint to the macho musical landscape of the nu metal and hip hop of the time.
With guest appearances from Ben Harper, Dr. John and Ben Watt, Central Reservation is a beautiful, steady album, perfect for those moments when you just need to turn the dial, the lights and your nervous system down and tap into the soft, subtle, poetry of this wild human life. From: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/doublej-classic-albums/beth-orton-central-reservation-mel-bampton/103688134
