The Ground Above by Beth Orton
#7
utterly meditative. “The Ground Above,” for me, taps into a similar vein that Beth Gibbons’ album “Lives Outgrown” did in 2024. Beth Orton’s voice is arresting in how it tremors through phrases, and she is supported by gorgeous, jazzy arrangements that call back to late-80s Talk Talk. The tracks on this album often take their time to unfold, but gradually build into spellbinding moments. In the meantime, she confronts grief, mortality, and life in general, sounding equally mournful and persevering.