Beth Orton – Central Reservation (2xLP)

Central Reservation is Beth Orton’s second studio album, released in 1999, and it's a beautiful fusion of folk, electronica, and trip-hop — a continuation of the sound she pioneered with her debut, Trailer Park.

The title track, “Central Reservation,” exists in two versions on the album: the more upbeat "Then Again" version and a slower, more introspective acoustic take. The album has a warm, organic feel, with Orton’s signature ethereal vocals blending with acoustic guitars, subtle beats, and string arrangements. It’s introspective, personal, and grounded in emotion.

It earned her a BRIT Award nomination and helped solidify her as a key voice in the late-90s folktronica scene.

Reviews

"And while much has been made of the melancholy that pervades her music, ultimately Central Reservation is first and foremost a record about hope and survival; its emotional centerpiece, the seven-minute "Pass in Time" (a spine-tingling duet with legendary folk-jazz mystic Terry Callier), grapples with the death of Orton's mother, but its underlying message of healing and perseverance is powerfully life-affirming -- her music hasn't merely discovered the light at the end of the tunnel, it's now bathing in it." Allmusic