INKPOT MUSIC REVIEWS: Beth Orton - Central Reservation (BMG/Arista)

Stolen Car
Sweetest Decline
Couldn't Cause Me Harm
So Much More
Pass in Time
Central Reservation (Original Version)
Stars All Seem to Weep
Love Like Laughter
Blood Red River
Devil Song
Feel to Believe
Central Reservation (the Then Again Version)

Beth Orton
Central Reservation (1999)

BMG/Arista HVNLP22CD

By Sharlene Tan

It was exciting to see the winners for this year's Brit Awards. I have never cared much for them before but this year was different. The winner for the Best British Solo Female Award was won not by Geri, Mel C, Gabrielle or Beverly Knight - but Beth Orton. Not exactly known for topping the charts, here was the surprise winner! Beth has finally won her place amongst the stars, although she definitely deserved it long ago. (She was previously nominated for the same award in 1998 but lost it to Shola Alma, whoever that is..)

Beth's latest album, the 1999 release Central Reservation is a beauty. She has a wonderful, soulful and distinctively British voice. Her producers know it and leave ample space for her to project it. Many of her tracks have a folksy sound with a simple drum-and-guitar background, like in "Feel to Believe".

My mother told me just before she died
"Oh darling, darling, don't you be like me
You will fall in love with the very first man you meet."
But mama, mama, some will never know;
The love that you have is still holding my soul.

One of the best songs on the album is "Pass in Time", a seven-minute long tribute to Beth's mother, who passed away when Beth was 19. On this track, Beth collaborates with Chicago soul singer Terry Callier. Although their voices have their own distinctive sounds, they blend well together in this song.

Beth Orton Beth has worked with many influential people in the music industry, starting with her debut on the Chemical Brothers' excellent Exit Planet Dust, on the track "Alive Along". She's also worked with William Orbit, now known as the producer of Madonna's Ray of Light - Orbit collaborated with Beth on her first album, Trailer Park.

Now on Central Reservation, two tracks were produced by Davis Roback of Mazzy Star. His definitive taste and experience lends an entirely different feel to her music in "Stars All Seem to Weep" and "Central Reservation (The Then Again Version)".

Hey, we welcome Sharlene, and this is her first review.