Daybreaker

by

Beth Orton

Edit

I usually come to a review wanting it to answer one simple question for me: should I buy this CD or not? The trouble is, while the question is simple, the answer is not. Let's try to deconstruct the reasons why you might consider buying this album:

1: Beth Orton fan with both her previous albums? Buy it. If you're looking for the lyrical splendour of 'Blood Red River' or 'Devil Song' from the Central Reservation album, you may be disappointed: this collection doen't have Beth reaching deep into your soul and tugging it inside out in that way. But, having not played it for several days, I awoke this morning to find 'anywhere' buzzing around in my head and demanding to be played.

2: Ryan Adams fan, looking for a Ryan fix before his next album (I thought he was going to release four this year - what happened to that?). Hesitate. He backs Beth on a couple of songs, (and sounds eerily like a young Elton John in places on Concrete Sky), and wrote one of the songs in the collection exclusively for her (this one's gonna bruise). But it doesn't sound like a Ryan Adams song as delivered by Beth. God Song comes closest to any alt Country heritage, but that's more Emmylou Harris influenced than Ryan influenced.

3: Chemical Bros fan/Everything but the Girl Fan, wanting more of that oeuvre? Depends. If you've heard Beth's voice on CB recordings and love it, go ahead. But you won't find a lot of their brand of music here - she's got a very distinctive place, and it's far away from theirs.

4: Simply curious about an artist you don't know who has a top-selling album out. Buy it. Then go out and buy Central Reservation and Trailer Park. But only if you like great melodies, beautiful lyrics, and a heart-rending voice. Otherwise leave it alone.

Some have commented on the version of Carmella on the album, and pointed out that it's not as good as the version on the EP. I tend to agree - I can't decide if that's because I heard the four tet remix first or not. Which brings me to the final point. Beth seems to by trying to shake off her 'downbeat' image - especially in concert. She's definitely blasting out the songs on this album on tour at the moment - and doing some rock chick posturing on stage. Which might put her in the no-man's land between true rock chick, and lyrical songstress in which people tend to get ignored or torn apart. I'd vote she stays with the songstress.

Beth Orton is a rare talent, with great songwriting skills and an unusual smokey, evocative voice. Here she delivers a long awaited, and beuatifully crafted follow up to the hit disc "Central Reservation", that althogh full of great songwriting is hampered by a lack real melody or memorable hooks in the songs.

Another way of putting this is amidst all the musical craftsmenship the songs ceased to be catchy, or memorable, if you will.

Orton lined up an A-1 cast of helpers such as Ben Watt (late of Everything But the Girl) who, as before is in charge of the beat, blips and trip hop side of things, Johnny Marr the guitar player from the Smiths and others. As a result it all sounds wonderful and the instrumentation is superb, but it lacks something.

Its an odd experience listening to the record, since each track starts off well enough, but the problem is in the chorus, the anticipated beautiful hook, or chord change, that distinguished her other discs, never quite comes except in a couple of tracks. This applies across the board to all styles present on the record, styles that are more diverse than before, the songs just lack a "crunch" that gives you a tingle.

The disc also fails to sparkle in mood and fall somewhat flat, as if Beht Orton is trying to hard to be meaningful in the lyrics. Another slight problem, the pace of the record gets steadily less, and the songs more stripped down as you proceed, and the last five songs are all extremely slow ballad type songs.

This record may well shine better on several listens and might work best at 1am with a bottle of scotch when you are truly in a reflective mood. For all it complexity and craft, it just can't match the shine and sparkle of "Central Reservation." Needless to say Orton's voice is as beautiful and evocative as ever.

All in all, buy this disc for its craft, its a bit like a lavish hand made wedding cake with not qutie enough sugar, or an expensive foriegn made, rare sports car, with not quite enough power, still meriting admiration and enjoyable, but......