Kidsticks

by 
AlbumMay 27 / 201610 songs, 37m 34s
Indietronica Indie Pop
Popular Highly Rated

The folktronica icon once more muddies her guitars with gauzy beats. After latterly charting a traditional folk-rock course, *Kidsticks* represents a sharp—and welcome—sonic left-turn. Or rather a sonic reverse. Aided by some taut production from Fuck Buttons’ Andrew Hung, this is Orton darting down new-but-neighbouring electronic avenues to the ones she conquered in the ‘90s. The textures she builds are mesmeric (see: the restless “Moon” and “Dawnstar”) and there’s a delicacy to her work (synth ballad “1973” and the pastoral “Corduroy Legs”) that’s genuinely refreshing.

7.6 / 10

Written and produced in Los Angeles with Andrew Hung of Fuck Buttons, Beth Orton's latest is anxious, playful, and sounds little like anything the singer/songwriter has done before.

F

After recording 2012’s folk-leaning Sugaring Season live in the studio with a full band, Beth Orton made a 180-degree creative pivot for her sixth solo album, Kidsticks. Instead of turning to acoustic guitar, the U.K. singer-songwriter first hunkered down in a garage and crafted keyboard loops with co-producer/Fuck…

7 / 10

Throughout her seventh album, Beth Orton’s soothing, airy vocals continuously elevate the songs to a special terrain, with themes of place, purpose and the strength found in both solitude and family giving the songs a meditative warmth and hypnotic…

9.0 / 10

When Beth Orton released Sugaring Season in 2012, she had moved as far as possible from her "folktronica" origins.

Frenetic drumbeats with flickering guitars and synths power a blistering return from Beth Orton, on her finest form since her Trailer Park days.

8 / 10

Beth Orton is the best. After studying guitar under the late great Bert Jansch and making the stunning alt-folk record Sugaring Season (2012...

8.5 / 10

To those who've ignorantly discarded her as a one-season wonder on the back of 1996's (still excellent) Trailer Park, whisper it quietly: Beth Orton has been continuing to deliver work of significant quality over the past 20 years.

8 / 10

With 2012’s ‘Sugaring Season’, Beth Orton seemed to have found a folk niche in which to settle, having toyed with stopping altogether.

(Anti)

8 / 10

Most of the songs on the album are quick and fun, with bright hooks and buoyant keyboards.

8 / 10

Photo: Tierney.

70 %

Album Reviews: Beth Orton - Kidsticks

Restless experimentalist creates sublimely novel electro-acoustic blend. CD review by Matthew Wright