Beth Orton : The Ground AboveFor more than 30 years, Beth Orton has been our antenna to the cosmos, the poet laureate of forces too vast to take in all at once. A testament to her artistry, `The Ground Above' is Orton's most direct and unapologetic music to date; urgent, raw, embodied and emotionally fearless, moving between subconscious expression and expansive, timeless song craft. Her voice, from whispered incantation to primal wail, equally delivers melodies reminiscent of

Shout - TLC (3

'Smokers Delight'

Smile - Gregory Isaacs (3

Magnolia Caboose Babys**t - Mudhoney (1

Caledonia Swing - Van Morrison

As both frontline foils and composers of all the tunes on this swinging set

Two of folk's most fearless innovators

Smooth Big Cat - Dope Lemon

King of Red Lions - The Deku Trio (1

Elias Ronnenfelt's lyrics burn with apocalyptic intimacy while the band masterfully maneuvers within their shape-shifting scenery of feral post-punk

A Trick of the Light - Villagers

Space Dog - Tori Amos (5