Best 1990s Throwback Concert of the Week
Folk music mingles with electronica in the hands of English singer-songwriter and 1990s mainstay Beth Orton, who plays The Bell House Wednesday, July 31. The often moody electronic elements combined with Orton’s haunting, signature vocal lilt made her tunes ideal for early aughts film and television soundtracks such as Vanilla Sky and Roswell. Orton’s recent releases rest more heavily on her folk inclinations, which we hear with rich and poignant precision on her latest album, 2012’s Sugaring Season. Her voice still bears the influences of Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, but with a maturity and plainspoken honesty earned after almost 20 years in the biz. I can only imagine that Orton herself has inspired the next wave of female singer-songwriters, most notably fellow Brit Laura Marling, whose smart, conversational lyrics and emotionally inflective singing seem to borrow more than a little from Orton. Grab tickets for $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Check out this week’s other concert picks here.–GA