With no less a figure than Ryan Adams on essentially backing vocals, and with the considerable writing talents of the ubiquitous Johnny Marr to point her in the right direction, Concrete Sky is the sound of a morning stretch after waking up to find the sky is as grey as concrete once again (readers outside the UK may have trouble understanding this, but those within these shores will feel instant affinity).

It oozes charm in a world-weary way, reminding us that although she might speak like Janet Street Porter, Beth Orton is a latter-day treasure.