Couldn't think of a much tastier way for top UK indie Heavenly Records to make its official US debut than with this gem. Beth Orton's vocals have previously graced efforts from such electronica boffos as the Chemical Brothers and Red Snapper. This solo effort finds a basic trio of stand-up bass (played by the Snapper's Ali Friend), acoustic guitar and Orton's airy vocals occasionally visited by drums, violin, cello and keyboard, that dynamically veer around sounds you have and haven't heard before. Or, in silly critic talk, think Bobby Gentry finding film noir and yearning to her liking.
There are songs here such as "Live As You Dream", "Sugar Boy" and "Whenever" which update, in a very comforting way, a certain subtle early 70's singer/songwriter style that brings to mind early Carly Simon or prime Carole King. In fact despite her youth and her current cool placement in the British electronica scene, Orton reveals some of the sources she draws on, on the Ronettes' classic "I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine". Here she brings out as much emotion with voice and acoustic guitar as the Spector wall of sound did many moons ago.
"Tangent" and the ten-minute opus "Galaxy Of Emptiness" brings the world of acoustic, down-tempo trip hop to the edge...oh the wonderful sounds that a stand-up bass can make.
Dealing with this low-key project is nothing new to producer Victor Van Vugt (Tindersticks, Nick Cave), who gives the basic sound plenty of room to breathe and roam with a dubby elegance to boot. Andrew Weatherall (Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Slab) comes in on the trippier tracks to refine their sheen.
Beth Orton draws on international cultural knowledge (I mean fer fuck's sake, given the title of the album, I find it fascinating that someone who probably hasn't seen the Jenny Jones show, has that much interest in American trash culture), intelligent, pretty steadfast lyrics and an eye on a cutting-edge sound to make Trailer Park a fine debut effort to sink into as the long hot summer passes you by.
