music journalist since 1992 | educator since 2004 | podcaster since 2020 | Iranian American since birth
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine July 2016 Issue:
Beth Orton takes an electronic turn on Kidsticks. While Orton has become increasingly known for her folk leanings, the singular-sounding hollow-voiced artist is no stranger to the plugged spectrum of music. Orton’s history with The Chemical Brothers, William Orbit, Red Snapper, and Kieren Hebden provides multiple reference points on Kidsticks. At times the bleeping minimalist soundscapes and tinny beats create a jagged, uncomfortable space, such as on the jittery “Snow” and glitchy “Flesh and Blood.” At other points, Orton makes the contentious marriage of conflicting styles work, see the gentle “Falling” and the whispery “Corduroy Legs.”
Watch Beth perform “1973” on 6 Music Live Room.