Album: Beth Orton, Sugaring Season (Anti)

Six years it's been. But here she is again with Tucker (Decemberists) Martine at the controls and a bespoke rhythm unit behind her instead of digital files.

Acoustic guitars, piano, drums, strings and thick double bass configure texture; Orton's accidental gaspy smear of a voice conveys her indecipherable content with glancing allusions to Patti S and Sandy D. More important on first contact, anyway, is the feel of the music, which grooves. Really good.