Trailer Park
(Dedicated, 1996)
The opening violin moan of "She Cries Your Name" announced the arrival of a major talent, and Orton's smoky vocals made this inspired meeting of much more than a "folk singer gets remixed" disc. With blissed-out tunes like "Touch me With Your Love" and Phil Spector's "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine," Orton's debut demands to be a major part of your Sunday mornings.

Best Bit EP
(Heavenly, 1997)
The title track is one of Orton's best songs, combining Brill Building pop with the brilliant euphoria of an evening on Ecstasy. The singer was prepping for her great leap forward, recalling John Martyn's jazzier moments on Fred Neil's "Dolphins," and duetting with Terry Callier on his "Lean On Me." A gem.

Central Reservation
(Arista, 1999)
Orton sidesteps the block-rocking beats while staying true to electronica's textures; Reservation's moods are evoked with sounds of vibraphones and Dr. John's rolling piano. Inspired at times by the death of her mother, it's an ethereal record that never obscures the solid songs or compromises its hopeful determination.

Daybreaker
(Astralwerks, 2002)
Working with a trans-Atlantic cast that includes the Smiths' Johnny Marr, the Chemical Brothers, Ryan Adams and Emmylou Harris, Orton's songs commute through space and emotion. String sections arrive and disappear, and reverberations imply ghost choirs. Throughout, the singer rockets across the countryside on a "Paris Train," falls to earth through "Concrete Sky," and over constantly eddying melodies keeps close watch on the way a heart can make both heaven and earth decidedly unsettled environments.