Orton Fans Will Take Comfort in New Record

AP, Feb 3, 2006 11:49 am PST
Beth Orton, "Comfort of Strangers," (Astralwerks/EMF)

Beth Orton fans, take comfort. Her new release includes some of her best work.

With pared-down production, a lush strings section, lots of piano and Orton's stunning songwriting ability, "Comfort of Strangers" is simply one great song after another.

From the spectacularly catchy "Worms," about chickens who can't fly because they have a wishbone instead of a backbone (double entendre? you decide) to the political stinger "Countenance" about "those who preach forgiveness while they're practicing revenge" to the final track, "Pieces of Sky," with its themes of life and death, love and loss — the whole album manages to stay energetic and upbeat, but never even close to saccharine.

"Shadow of Doubt" is probably the most uplifting break-up song ever written. And "Pieces of Sky," which starts off deceptively quiet before exploding into a raucous symphony about opening up to love's potential, is one of Orton's finest creations.

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