Beth Orton combines the passionate* beauty of traditional folk music with the electronic beats* of hip-hop to create a fresh mix.

　The opening track, Paris Train, is an example of her return to tradition after several years working on rock music. Another masterpiece* on the record is the haunting* ballad*, God’s Song, which may rank in as her best song.

　In the song, Orton gives up her familiar instrument* — drum and percussion*, and we hear mainly guitar and bass.Talking about Tomorrow has a graceful melody and is perhaps my favorite song on the album.In fact, all 10 songs on the album are undeniably impressive*.

　But in abandoning* the electronic elements and using more acoustic* instruments like strings and guitar, Orton has lost some of her originality*.

　She’s very much a traditional singer now.Fortunately, this British lady knows how to take advantage of rhythm to grasp listeners’ interest. People are so interested that this album is now topping the charts.Though much of Daybreaker is lovely, somehow the word “traditional” is not a proper word to describe it.

　I prefer to use the words “fair” and “average.”