Beth Orton releases "The Ground Above": a sonic journey from the desert to the garden on her new album

Three decades ago, Beth Orton won over the public with the single "She Cries Your Name", a track that not only introduced her unique voice to the world, but also consolidated the term "folktronica" to describe her mix of folk and electronica. The London artist's image has always been associated with an arid, almost desert-like landscape, which seemed to echo in the textures of her music. However, with the release of his ninth album, "The Ground Above", Orton seems to leave this dry atmosphere behind to explore new emotional and sonic territories, as if leaving the desert for a vibrant garden full of life. Beth Orton's career has been marked by intense and controversial moments, such as when, in 2016, she returned to California to record the video for the song "1973" in the Mojave Desert, and ended up being criticized for having painted Joshua trees, a species protected by law. Ten years after this episode, the track that gives the new album its name reveals a more reflective and mature Orton, who walks through the heat waves of the desert not to destroy it, but to admire its beauty and complexity. The album opens with an atmospheric introduction, where piano and psychedelic organs create an immersive soundscape. Then, Orton appears with a slightly tense voice, but full of emotion, singing powerful verses that speak of the invincibility of pain and the strength of maternal love, in a metaphor that connects the arid desert terrain to the sky above. This title track reflects the artist's vision of how love and grief are intrinsically linked, capable of paralyzing, but also revealing our coexisting vulnerability and strength. Fans who were enchanted by the sonic experiments on the album "Weather Alive" (2022), also produced by Orton, will find in "The Ground Above" a continuation of this direction, with the singer once again taking full control of the production. For this, it featured the collaboration of talented musicians such as Shahzad Ismaily, Tom Skinner (from the band The Smile) and Tom Herbert, as well as special appearances by Orton's partner, Sam Amidon, and other renowned artists such as Dave Okumu and Adrian Utley. The collective work resulted in a complex and intentional sound construction, where the first three tracks last around seven minutes each, creating an atmosphere that recalls productions by Daniel Lanois and the introspective style of Lambchop. The influence of contemporary artists like Cat Power is also noticeable, especially in the way Orton combines electronic elements with a folk and jazz sensibility. As the album progresses, it takes on a more vibrant and soulful tone, especially on the track "Waiting". This song brings infectious energy, with arrangements that recall the classic Stax Records sound, revealing a side of Orton as a soul singer, with echoes of icons such as Otis Redding, Patti LaBelle and Nina Simone. This is not an imitation, but an authentic expression of his ability to let music guide his emotions, prioritizing truth and spontaneity. The live recording of several tracks gives the album a feeling of spontaneity and organicity uncommon in electronic and atmospheric records. This is especially notable in the album's ending, with the track "Cigarette Curls" presenting a relaxed and free atmosphere, and in the grandiose closing of "Otherside". This last song symbolizes the album's thematic and sonic transition, from the desert to the garden, with a more accelerated and pop beat, culminating in a chorus that, although full of anxiety, is sung with a renewed confidence: "Tell me you made it through the night / Tell me you made it out alive". In a press interview, Orton explained that "Otherside" was inspired by the song of the first birds at dawn, a sign of survival and renewal. Based on this concept, the album addresses profound themes such as resilience in the face of loss, the meaning of individual and collective freedom, and the ability to rebuild a life even after devastation. This message gives "The Ground Above" a universal and timeless dimension, which goes beyond the simple musical record. Released on June 26, 2026 by Partisan Records, and produced by Beth Orton herself, "The Ground Above" is a work that reaffirms the artist's relevance in the contemporary music scene. With a sound that mixes folk, jazz, soul and electronics, the album offers a rich and immersive listening experience, reflecting the maturity and sensitivity of an artist who continues to explore new paths without losing her essence. For fans and new listeners, "The Ground Above" is an invitation to a sonic journey that moves between the aridity of the desert and the fertility of the garden, a metaphor for the ups and downs of life, from pain to hope, from loss to renewal.