Sugaring Season

On 2012’s <i>Sugaring Season</i>, Beth Orton returns from a six-year hiatus sounding more in control of her vision than ever. Gone are the electronic textures of her solo debut, replaced by a warm, gorgeous backing that’s part folk, part Americana. These are quietly gripping songs about doubt and perseverance: “Silence me and I won’t be here anymore,” she warns on “Magpie”, over ominous, seesawing violin. Meanwhile, both “Dawn Chorus” and “Mystery”—two of the loveliest songs in her entire catalogue—capture the wonders of enduring love.