BETH ORTON releases new single 'Fractals' ahead of her eighth album 'Weather Alive' out 23rd September

September 8, 2022 Steve Muscutt

Photo Credit: Eliot Lee Hazel

English singer/songwriter Beth Orton today releases the new song “Fractals” which features jazz poet Alabaster dePlume on the swirling saxophone, The Smile drummer Tom Skinner, multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily and Mercury Prize nominated bassist Tom Herbert of The Invisible.

These musicians locked naturally into Orton’s sensibilities, expanding the new sonic world she’s created. Initially inspired by the 2020 deaths of the legendary producers Andrew Weatherall and Hal Willner, two of Orton’s most beloved musical compatriots, says Orton of the song, “The track is a beautiful example of the nature of collaboration, where people come in as they are,” she says. “You’re hearing the first take. I would never have been able to conjure that music without these musicians.”

“Fractals” is the latest preview from Orton’s first LP in six years and Partisan Records debut Weather Alive, out September 23rd. Listen and watch the “Fractals” visualizer here: https://youtu.be/RSDliZi9d6U

Already the array of released tracks has positioned Weather Alive as the album of Orton’s esteemed career which she herself calls a collaboration with the self, also her first self-produced LP in her nearly 30-year career. Recently Orton was also at the helm of the camera for her self-directed video for “Friday Night” shot in Hydra, Greece. Revisit the warm Proust-referencing track here: https://youtu.be/aYUXWwMWbGE

Praise for Weather Alive’s “Forever Young” and the lead single/title track (released in May) has poured in from The New York Times, NME, and Pitchfork who named “Weather Alive” a Best New Track calling it “a slow-burning tour de force.” MOJO added in their four-star review that the album “Nestles somewhere between Talk Talk’s final years and Bill Fay’s late beauties, between Alice Coltrane’s intimate hymns and Fiona Apple’s softest moments...the musical richness only mirrors Orton’s astounding writing.”

On November 1st, Orton will embark on her fist US headlining tour in over five years following her return to live shows on an arena stint with Alanis Morisette this Spring. Orton will play at Bowery Ballroom in NYC, The Teragram in Los Angeles, The Mayfield in Chicago and more. This Fall, she will also play a handful of UK and EU festivals before a headline UK tour through October including a KOKO Camden show on October 9th. See the full list of tour dates below and here: https://bethortonofficial.com/tour

Alongside her October UK Tour, Beth is also pleased to announce details of five new instore live dates for September, in addition to her previously announced headline tour. Tickets are available now from the stores in London, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Oxford. Full details listed below.

Photo Credit: Eliot Lee Hazel

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE WEATHER ALIVE

BETH ORTON TOUR DATES

In Store Performances (tickets available now in store):

23 SEPT 2022 / Rough Trade East / London

25 SEPT / Bear Tree / Sheffield

26 SEPT / Assai Records / Edinburgh

28 SEPT / HMV / Nottingham

29 Sept / Truck Store / Oxford

UK Tour:

7 OCT 2022 / UK / Birmingham / Academy 2

8 OCT 2022 / UK / Brighton / St. Bartholomew’s Church

9 OCT 2022 / UK / London / KOKO

10 OCT 2022 / UK / Norwich / Arts Centre