The future comes right round to hold me
Oh man, did I need this. The past week's been a little crazy, even though I'm having trouble remembering why. Ever have weeks like that?
Anyway, this is a great record. Comfort of Strangers is produced by Jim O'Rourke, who indie geeks will probably recognize as a longtime (until recently) member of Sonic Youth, and one of the many hands twiddling knobs on Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Of course, the strength of the record comes from Beth Orton's great songwriting skills, and that voice. That voice! It kills me, every time, even when it's on records that don't do much for me, like 2002's Daybreaker. Compared to that album, Comfort of Strangers is a lot warmer and livelier, though (befitting the subdued, brown cover with rainbows) there are also shades of melancholy.
As a single, I think this song works wonders; from that initial beat to the little bells and whistles O'Rourke always has up his sleeves. The rest of the record is just as good, so be sure to pick it up when it comes out next Tuesday. You can get it everywhere, but Insound is always a great place to start. As always, you can also pre-order from Amazon.
Also, there's a ridiculous video for this song involving a drum-playing rabbit who wears a headband. Puppets and muppets abound.
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