Beth Orton finds her way back to the emotional depths of human experience with her latest album, The Ground Above. As she announced its release on June 26th, Orton framed the experience with a wonderfully paradoxical note: “What has kept me alive is feral invincibility.” This sentiment perfectly captures the tension inherent in her music—the beautiful collision of deep grief and ecstatic joy.
Following her career-best work, Weather Alive (2022), Orton continues her journey by leaning into immersive, dreamy sounds that steer clear of electronic dance beats. Where her earlier recordings established a melancholic folk/trip-hop sensibility, The Ground Above veers closer to the sophisticated mood of late-night jazz clubs, creating an atmosphere that is both deeply introspective and wonderfully liberating.
The new record is a tapestry woven from intense emotion. Orton works with a diverse group of collaborators, including Adrian Utley (Portishead), Shahzad Ismaily (Ceramic Dog), Nick Hakim, and drummer Tom Skinner (The Smile). This collaborative spirit infuses the album with weighty, resonant songs that navigate the complex terrain between sorrow and triumph.
The soundscape of The Ground Above is defined by Orton’s distinctive craggy vocals, which sit front and center on tracks like the eight-and-a-half-minute title track. These compositions invite deep listening, offering multiple layers of feeling rather than a simple, quick fix. While much of the album settles into moody, expansive growers, the emotional arc is expertly handled.
Specific moments shine through in songs that explore specific facets of living. Tracks like “Waiting,” featuring tasteful contributions from Christos Stylianides’ trumpet and Jesse Chandler’s flute, capture a sense of sustained presence rather than passive waiting. Meanwhile, gentler pieces like “Before I Knew” deliver a fragile reflection on deeply ingrained beliefs, perfectly echoing the vulnerability found in Orton’s voice.
Even the most soaring moments are balanced with profound truth. On the penultimate track, “Love You Right,” Orton allows her voice to truly soar, offering a powerful resolution that feels earned. The album successfully traverses tricky emotional ground, proving that true invincibility lies not in avoiding sadness, but in embracing the full spectrum of feeling.
Credit: Spin
