In geometry, the tangent line (or simply the tangent) to a curve at a given point is the straight line that "just touches" the curve at that point (in the sense explained more precisely below). As it passes through the point where the tangent line and the curve meet, or the point of tangency, the tangent line is "going in the same direction" as the curve, and in this sense it is the best straight-line approximation to the curve at that point. The same definition applies to space curves and curves in ''n''-dimensional Euclidean space.

Similarly, the tangent plane to a surface at a given point is the plane that "just touches" the surface at that point. The concept of a tangent is one of the most fundamental notions in differential geometry and has been extensively generalized; see Tangent space.

The word "tangent" comes from the Latin ''tangens'', meaning "touching".

Definition of Tangent

A straight line is said to be a tangent of a curve y=f(x) at a point x=c on the curve if the line passes through the point (c, f(c)) on the curve and has slope f'(c) where f' is the derivative of f. This line is called a tangent line, or simply a tangent.

Tangent line to a curve

The intuitive notion that a tangent line "touches" a curve can be made more explicit by considering the sequence of straight lines (secant lines) passing through two points, ''A'' and ''B'', those that lie on the function curve. The tangent at ''A'' is the limit when point ''B'' approximates or tends to ''A''. The existence and uniqueness of the tangent line depends on a certain type of mathematical smoothness, known as "differentiability." For example, if two circular arcs meet at a sharp point (a vertex) then there is no uniquely defined tangent at the vertex because the limit of the progression of secant lines depends on the direction in which "point ''B''" approaches the vertex.

If the curvature is nonzero, the tangent to a curve does not cross the curve at the point of tangency (though it may, when continued, cross the curve at other places away from the point of tangent) This is true, for example, of all tangents to a circle or a parabola. However, at exceptional points called inflection points, the tangent line ''does'' cross the curve at the point of tangency. An example is the point (0,0) on the graph of the cubic parabola ''y'' = ''x''³.

Conversely, it may happen that the curve lies entirely on one side of a straight line passing through a point on it, and yet this straight line is not a tangent line. This is the case, for example, for a line passing through the vertex of a triangle and not intersecting the triangle—where the tangent line does not exist for the reasons explained above. In convex geometry, such lines are called supporting lines.

Analytical approach

The geometric idea of the tangent line as the limit of secant lines serves as the motivation for analytical methods that are used to find tangent lines explicitly. The question of finding the tangent line to a graph, or the tangent line problem, was one of the central questions leading to the development of calculus in the 17th century. In the second book of his ''Geometry'', René Descartes said of the problem of constructing the tangent to a curve, "And I dare say that this is not only the most useful and most general problem in geometry that I know, but even that I have ever desired to know".

Intuitive description

Suppose that a curve is given as the graph of a function, ''y'' = ''f''(''x''). To find the tangent line at the point ''p'' = (''a'', ''f''(''a'')), consider another nearby point ''q'' = (''a'' + ''h'', ''f''(''a'' + ''h'')) on the curve. The slope of the secant line passing through ''p'' and ''q'' is equal to the difference quotient

: $\backslash frac\{f(a+h)-f(a)\}\{h\}.$

As the point ''q'' approaches ''p'', which corresponds to making ''h'' smaller and smaller, the difference quotient should approach a certain limiting value ''k'', which is the slope of the tangent line at the point ''p''. If ''k'' is known, the equation of the tangent line can be found in the point-slope form:

: $y-f(a)\; =\; k(x-a).\backslash ,$

More rigorous description

To make the preceding reasoning rigorous, one has to explain what is meant by the difference quotient approaching a certain limiting value ''k''. The precise mathematical formulation was given by Cauchy in the 19th century and is based on the notion of limit. Suppose that the graph does not have a break or a sharp edge at ''p'' and it is neither plumb nor too wiggly near ''p''. Then there is a unique value of ''k'' such that as ''h'' approaches 0, the difference quotient gets closer and closer to ''k'', and the distance between them becomes negligible compared with the size of ''h'', if ''h'' is small enough. This leads to the definition of the slope of the tangent line to the graph as the limit of the difference quotients for the function ''f''. This limit is the derivative of the function ''f'' at ''x'' = ''a'', denoted ''f'' ′(''a''). Using derivatives, the equation of the tangent line can be stated as follows:

: $y=f(a)+f\text{'}(a)(x-a).\backslash ,$

Calculus provides rules for computing the derivatives of functions that are given by formulas, such as the power function, trigonometric functions, exponential function, logarithm, and their various combinations. Thus, equations of the tangents to graphs of all these functions, as well as many others, can be found by the methods of calculus.

How the method can fail

Calculus also demonstrates that there are functions and points on their graphs for which the limit determining the slope of the tangent line does not exist. For these points the function ''f'' is ''non-differentiable''. There are two possible reasons for the method of finding the tangents based on the limits and derivatives to fail: either the geometric tangent exists, but it is a vertical line, which cannot be given in the point-slope form since it does not have a slope, or the graph exhibits one of three behaviors that precludes a geometric tangent.

The graph ''y'' = ''x''^1/3 illustrates the first possibility: here the difference quotient at ''a'' = 0 is equal to ''h''^1/3/''h'' = ''h''^−2/3, which becomes very large as ''h'' approaches 0. The tangent line to this curve at the origin is vertical.

The graph ''y'' = |''x''| of the absolute value function consists of two straight lines with different slopes joined at the origin. As a point ''q'' approaches the origin from the right, the secant line always has slope 1. As a point ''q'' approaches the origin from the left, the secant line always has slope −1. Therefore, there is no unique tangent to the graph at the origin. Having two different (but finite) slopes is called a ''corner''.

A ''cusp'' occurs when the slope approaches infinity. This can mean one side of the graph has a slope that approaches plus or minus infinity while the slope other is finite. It can also mean both sides' slopes approaches positive infinity or negative infinity.

Finally, since differentiability implies continuity, the contrapositive states ''discontinuity'' implies non-differentiability. Any such jump or point discontinuity will have no tangent line. This includes cases where one slope approaches positive infinity while the other approaches negative infinity, leading to an infinite jump discontinuity.

Equations

When the curve is given by ''y'' = ''f''(''x'') then the slope of the tangent is $\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dx\},$ so by the point–slope formula the equation of the tangent line at (''X'', ''Y'') is :$y-Y=\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dx\}(X)\; \backslash cdot\; (x-X)$ where (''x'', ''y'') are the coordinates of any point on the tangent line, and where the derivative is evaluated at $x=X$.

When the curve is given by ''y'' = ''f''(''x''), the tangent line's equation can also be found by using polynomial division to divide $f\; \backslash ,\; (x)$ by $(x-X)^2$; if the remainder is denoted by $g(x)$, then the equation of the tangent line is given by

:$y=g(x).$

When the equation of the curve is given in the form ''f''(''x'', ''y'') = 0 then the value of the slope can be found by implicit differentiation, giving :$\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dx\}=-\backslash frac\{\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}\}\{\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}\}.$ The equation of the tangent line is then :$\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}(X,Y)\; \backslash cdot\; (x-X)+\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}(X,Y)\; \backslash cdot\; (y-Y)=0.$ For algebraic curves, computations may be simplified somewhat by converting to homogeneous coordinates. Specifically, let the homogeneous equation of the curve be ''g''(''x'', ''y'', ''z'') = 0 where ''g'' is a homogeneous function of degree ''n''. Then, if (''X'', ''Y'', ''Z'') lies on the curve, Euler's theorem implies :$\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; g\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}\; \backslash cdot\; X\; +\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; g\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}\; \backslash cdot\; Y+\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; g\}\{\backslash partial\; z\}\; \backslash cdot\; Z=ng(X,\; Y,\; Z)=0.$ It follows that the homogeneous equation of the tangent line is :$\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; g\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}(X,Y,Z)\; \backslash cdot\; x+\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; g\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}(X,Y,Z)\; \backslash cdot\; y+\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; g\}\{\backslash partial\; z\}(X,Y,Z)\; \backslash cdot\; z=0.$ The equation of the tangent line in Cartesian coordinates can be found by setting ''z''=1 in this equation.

To apply this to algebraic curves, write ''f''(''x'', ''y'') as :$f=u\_n+u\_\{n-1\}+\backslash dots+u\_1+u\_0\backslash ,$ where each ''u''_''r'' is the sum of all terms of degree ''r''. The homogeneous equation of the curve is then :$g=u\_n+u\_\{n-1\}z+\backslash dots+u\_1\; z^\{n-1\}+u\_0\; z^n=0.\backslash ,$ Applying the equation above and setting ''z''=1 produces :$\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}(X,Y)\; \backslash cdot\; x\; +\; \backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}(X,Y)\; \backslash cdot\; y\; +\; u\_\{n-1\}\; +\; \backslash dots\; +\; (n-1)\; u\_1\; +\; nu\_0\; =0$ as the equation of the tangent line. The equation in this form is often simpler to use in practice since no further simplification is needed after it is applied.

If the curve is given parametrically by :$x=x(t),\backslash quad\; y=y(t)$ then the slope of the tangent is :$\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dx\}=\backslash frac\{\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dt\}\}\{\backslash frac\{dx\}\{dt\}\}$ giving the equation for the tangent line at $\backslash ,\; t=T,\; \backslash ,\; x=X,\; \backslash ,\; y=Y$ as :$\backslash frac\{dx\}\{dt\}(T)\; \backslash cdot\; (y-Y)=\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dt\}(T)\; \backslash cdot\; (x-X).$

Normal line to a curve

The line perpendicular to the tangent line to a curve at the point of tangency is called the ''normal line'' to the curve at that point. The slopes of perpendicular lines have product −1, so if the equation of the curve is ''y'' = ''f''(''x'') then slope of the normal line is :$-\backslash frac\{1\}\{\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dx\}\}$ and it follows that the equation of the normal line is :$(X-x)+\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dx\}(Y-y)=0.$ Similarly, if the equation of the curve has the form ''f''(''x'', ''y'') = 0 then the equation of the tangent line is given by :$\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; y\}(X-x)-\backslash frac\{\backslash partial\; f\}\{\backslash partial\; x\}(Y-y)=0.$

If the curve is given parametrically by :$x=x(t),\backslash quad\; y=y(t)$ then the equation of the normal line is :$\backslash frac\{dx\}\{dt\}(X-x)+\backslash frac\{dy\}\{dt\}(Y-y)=0.$

Angle between curves

The angle between two curves at a point where they intersect is defined as the angle between their tangent lines at that point. More specifically, two curves are said to be tangent at a point if they have the same tangent at a point, and orthogonal if their tangent lines are orthogonal.

Multiple tangents at the origin

The formulas above fail when the point is a singular point. In this case there may be two or more branches of the curve which pass through the point, each branch having its own tangent line. When the point is the origin, the equations of these lines can be found for algebraic curves by factoring the equation formed by eliminating all but the lowest degree terms from the original equation. Since any point can be made the origin by a change of variables, this gives a method for finding the tangent lines at any singular point.

For example, the equation of the limaçon trisectrix shown to the right is :$(x^2+y^2-2ax)^2=a^2(x^2+y^2).\backslash ,$ Expanding this and eliminating all but terms of degree 2 gives :$a^2(3x^2-y^2)=0\backslash ,$ which, when factored, becomes :$y=\backslash pm\backslash sqrt\{3\}x.$ So these are the equations of the two tangent lines through the origin.

Tangent circles

thumb|200px|Two pairs of tangent circles. Above internally and below externally tangentTwo circles of non-equal radius, both in the same plane, are said to be tangent to each other if they meet at only one point. Equivalently, two circles, with radii of ''r_i'' and centers at (''x_i'' , ''y_i''), for ''i'' = 1, 2 are said to be tangent to each other if

:$\backslash left(x\_1-x\_2\backslash right)^2+\backslash left(y\_1-y\_2\backslash right)^2=\backslash left(r\_1\backslash pm\; r\_2\backslash right)^2.\backslash ,$

Two circles are externally tangent if the distance between their centres is equal to the sum of their radii.

:$\backslash left(x\_1-x\_2\backslash right)^2+\backslash left(y\_1-y\_2\backslash right)^2=\backslash left(r\_1\; +\; r\_2\backslash right)^2.\backslash ,$ Two circles are internally tangent if the distance between their centres is equal to the difference between their radii. :$\backslash left(x\_1-x\_2\backslash right)^2+\backslash left(y\_1-y\_2\backslash right)^2=\backslash left(r\_1\; -\; r\_2\backslash right)^2.\backslash ,$

Surfaces and higher-dimensional manifolds

The ''tangent plane'' to a surface at a given point ''p'' is defined in an analogous way to the tangent line in the case of curves. It is the best approximation of the surface by a plane at ''p'', and can be obtained as the limiting position of the planes passing through 3 distinct points on the surface close to ''p'' as these points converge to ''p''. More generally, there is a ''k''-dimensional tangent space at each point of a ''k''-dimensional manifold in the ''n''-dimensional Euclidean space.

See also

Newton's method

Surface normal

Osculating circle

Subtangent

Tangent cone

Tangential angle

Tangential component

Tangent lines to circles

Perpendicular

Supporting line

References

External links

Tangent to a circle With interactive animation

Tangent and first derivative - An interactive simulation

The Tangent Parabola by John H. Mathews

Category:Differential geometry Category:Differential topology Category:Analytic geometry

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Coordinates	28°36′50″N77°12′32″N
name	The Tangent
background	group_or_band
genre	Progressive rock
years active	2002–present
website	www.thetangent.org
current members	Andy TillisonTheo TravisJonathan BarrettLuke MachinTony Latham
past members	Roine StoltDavid JacksonZoltan CsörszSam BaineKrister JonssonJaime SalazarJonas ReingoldRikard SjöblomDavid ZackrissonRobert HansenMagnus ÖstgrenJakko JakszykGuy ManningPaul Burgess
notable instruments	}}

The Tangent is a progressive rock group formed in 2002.

History

Formation

Originally formed by keyboardists Andy Tillison and Sam Baine of Parallel or 90 Degrees and The Flower Kings guitarist Roine Stolt, bassist Jonas Reingold, and drummer Zoltan Csörsz. The septet was completed by renowned saxophonist David Jackson of Van der Graaf Generator and multi-instrumentalist Guy Manning.

The Tangent has an improbable history and numerous changes in personnel. In May 1999, Andy Tillison and Sam Baine's band Parallel or 90 Degrees performed a Classic Rock Society gig at Rotherham supporting Swedish band The Flower Kings. Neither band had heard of the other.

While writing the next Parallel or 90 Degrees album, ''More Exotic Ways To Die'', Tillison began to filter out certain ideas that were more overtly "prog" in nature and pass them over to what he called a "solo album". Inspired by the Flower Kings albums he was now listening to on an hourly basis, he decided to separate his "prog" from his rock, and the result was a Parallel or 90 Degrees album stripped of much of the flowery style of progressive music which suited that band's cause well.

This 'left over' music was put to one side until Tillison had a row with Flower Kings crew member Ian Oakley. "I made the fatal mistake of slagging Po90 off in a review of that first concert the bands played together," remembers Oakley. "I was obviously reviewing the Flower Kings, and I'd not in honesty paid that much attention to Po90's set. I guess what I wrote must have looked a bit dismissive, just a couple of lines about them. I got this mail from Andy that tore me to bits. I wrote back and told him it was the actually the very first review I'd ever written. He wrote back to me and apologised, we started to talk a lot about prog music, discovered we had a lot in common, and he sent me this CD of demos he'd been sitting on. Suffice to say I am now the Tangent's manager..."

Oakley sent Tillison's demo to Roine Stolt of the Flower Kings. Stolt liked it, offered to play on it, invited Jonas Reingold and Zoltan Csorsz to help out on drums and bass and suggested adding a saxophonist. Tillison happened to know David Jackson's telephone number.

The resulting album, ''The Music That Died Alone'', was welcomed by the progressive rock community and the band won 'Best newcomer', 'Best artwork', 'Best debut' and 'Album of the year' in nearly every worldwide progressive rock poll. Each subsequent album has achieved similar acclaim.

Subsequent albums

Though the original line-up has changed significantly, Tillison remains the driving force behind the band, and they have of late branched out from the usual symphonic prog format to include jazz, funk, Canterbury scene, electronica, and a variety of other styles.

For early 2007, The Tangent released a double live CD and DVD on InsideOut Records, "Going Off On One". The material was taken from recordings of their recent UK shows and some of the ROSfest USA recordings. The album features music from all three studio albums. The line up for the band featured Swedes Jonas Reingold, Krister Jonsson and Jaime Salazar and Brits Andy Tillison, Sam Baine and Theo Travis on all tracks and Guy Manning on the UK based tracks.

In 2007 a new variant line up of The Tangent was started: a trio consisting of Jonas Reingold, Andy Tillison and Jaime Salazar. Their live shows will be advertised and promoted as "The Tangent presents: Tillison, Reingold, & Salazar" and will feature new music, familiar Tangent favorites in a new arrangement, and - although no details are given - the trio are planning a full performance of a "major, well loved progressive rock classic". This could also be accompanied by a limited independent band release of a new studio version of said "progressive rock classic".

Early 2008 saw the next full blown Tangent album ''Not as Good as the Book'' released (on Insideout), featuring new guitarist Jakko Jakszyk. However, for a series of live dates in Europe in Spring 2008, the band performed as a quartet with Andy Tillison, Jonas Reingold, Jaime Salazar and the return of guitarist Krister Jonsson. Jaksyzyk and Theo Travis guested with the band on selected dates.

The Tangent + Beardfish union

A new statement issued by Andy Tillison on the Tangent Email Forum on June 30, 2008 gives the information that The Tangent will not work with the Malmö based trio (Jonsson, Reingold, Salazar) for the next tours/records. The replacement musicians will be the four members of Swedish progressive rock band Beardfish. Tillison also stated that both bands "will continue to exist, record and perform in their own right" and that the "lineup will still be variable at concerts depending on location, budget etc." This makes The Tangent being now an 8-piece band, something completely new to them.

This happened to be as The Tangent met Beardfish in their last tour together. Tillison was invited to guest in one of Beardfish performances and felt the need to work with them. At that time (and prior to that), Reingold "couldn't see a development within the band", this fact culminating with his (and the other two Swedish members) leaving the band, which was confirmed by recent statements made by him. Rikard Sjöblom from Beardfish also made statements confirming the new union band.

The new line-up debuted by headlining at the UK's Summer's End festival in September 2008

Down and Out in Paris and London

Due to the busy schedule of Beardfish, their collaboration with The Tangent had to be suspended and yet another lineup change was required for the recording of the fifth studio album, Down and Out in Paris and London. In addition, guitarist Jakko Jakszyk had decided to leave the band after the union with Beardfish.

The new lineup has seen the addition of drummer Paul Burgess and bass player Jonathan Barrett. While waiting to decide on a new guitarist, all the electric guitar parts in the album have been played by Andy Tillison.

Live performances

Since 2003 the band in its various forms has played concerts and festivals in the USA, UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and France.

Cover art

The band had much of their cover art done by artist Ed Unitsky, who worked closely with the band when designing their album artwork. Ed has completed five album covers for The Tangent.

Cover artwork for the album Not as Good as the Book (2008) was created by French artist Antoine Ettori, for Down and Out in Paris and London (2009) by mbl graphics.

Personnel

Current members

Andy Tillison (keyboards, guitars, vocals)

Luke Machin (guitar, vocals)

Tony "Funkytoe" Latham (drums)

Jonathan Barrett (bass guitar)

Theo Travis (saxophone, flute)

Former members

Roine Stolt (guitars, vocals)

David Jackson (saxophone, flute)

Sam Baine (keyboards, piano, vocals)

Zoltan Csörsz (drums)

Krister Jonsson (guitars)

Jonas Reingold (bass guitar)

Jaime Salazar (drums)

Rikard Sjöblom (keyboards, vocals)

David Zackrisson (guitars)

Robert Hansen (bass guitar)

Magnus Östgren (drums)

Jakko Jakszyk (guitars)

Guy Manning (acoustic guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, keyboards, vocals)

Michael Gilbourne (drums)

Discography

Studio albums

''The Music That Died Alone'' (2003)

''The World That We Drive Through'' (2004)

''A Place In The Queue'' (2006)

''Not As Good As The Book'' (2008)

''Down and Out in PARIS and LONDON'' (2009)

''A Place On The Shelf'' (2010)

''COMM'' (2011)

Live albums

''Pyramids and Stars'' (2005)

''Going Off On One'' (2007)

''Going Off On Two'' (2011)

References

External links

The Tangent official band site

Beardfish official band site

Manning official band site

Artist Ed Unitsky official homepage

2010 interview with Andy Tillison - part 1

2010 interview with Andy Tillison and Jonathan Barrett - part 2

The Tangent at progressiverockbr.com

Category:Supergroups Category:English progressive rock groups

de:The Tangent es:The Tangent fr:The Tangent it:The Tangent nl:The Tangent pl:The Tangent

Coordinates	28°36′50″N77°12′32″N
name	Beth Orton
landscape	yes
background	solo_singer
birth name	Elizabeth Caroline Orton
born	December 14, 1970East Dereham, Norfolk, England
origin	Norwich, England
instrument	Vocals, acoustic guitar
genre	Folk, electronica
occupation	Singer-songwriter
years active	1993–present
label	Heavenly (1996–2005)EMI-UK (2005–present) Astralwerks (2003-2010)ANTI- (2010- )
associated acts	The Chemical Brothers, William Orbit
website	Beth-Orton.net
notable instruments	}}

Beth Orton (born Elizabeth Caroline Orton, 14 December 1970) is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first recordings. She had released a solo album, ''Superpinkymandy'', in 1993. Since the album was only released in Japan, it went largely unnoticed by international audiences. Her second solo album, ''Trailer Park'', garnered much critical acclaim in 1996. Orton developed a devoted audience with the release of the albums ''Central Reservation'' (1999) and the 2002 UK top 10 album, ''Daybreaker''. In her 2006 release, ''Comfort of Strangers,'' she moved towards a more folk-based sound and away from the electronic sound of her past albums.

American films and television programmes such as ''Felicity'', ''How to Deal'', ''Charmed'', ''Dawson's Creek'', ''Vanilla Sky'' and ''Grey's Anatomy'' have featured her music and provided her with exposure to a more mainstream American audience.

Early career

Orton was born in East Dereham, Norfolk, but moved to Dalston, east London at age fourteen. Her father, an architectural draughtsman, left her mother when Beth was eleven, and she lived with her mother, an artist and political activist, and her two brothers, her father dying shortly afterwards. Her mother died from cancer in 1989, when Beth was aged 19, which led to her travelling to Thailand for a short period, residing with Buddhist nuns. Orton found success as a musician relatively late, having first worked at menial jobs such as a waitress at Pizza Hut and even owning her own catering company. She was also more interested in acting during her early career, having enrolled at the Anna Scher Theatre School, and she spent some time touring ''Une Saison en Enfer'' with a fringe theatre company throughout the UK, Russia and Ukraine, playing Rimbaud's lover.

Singing career

Early work

Her first contribution in music came after she met William Orbit at a party and tried to borrow a cigarette from him. They began a relationship shortly after, and he encouraged her to do some spoken word for his Strange Cargo project and to sing. Possibly the best-known work from that time is "Water from a Vine Leaf", which she co-wrote and which was released as a limited-edition single. It was also at this time that Orbit and Orton covered John Martyn's "Don't Wanna Know 'Bout Evil", which was not only the first song that they recorded together, but also the first release as a duet called Spill in Japan, which was also re-released in 1997 in the UK. She regarded Orbit's influence as very positive, commenting "I think William pulled me out of the crowd and pulled me out of the gutter, in a way. Because I don't know where my enthusiasm was going to take me, because it was pretty raw to say the least."

''SuperPinkyMandy''

Shortly after, Orton and Orbit began experimenting to pull an L.P. together. "Don't Wanna Know 'Bout Evil" was the first track on that album, called ''SuperPinkyMandy'', named after a rag doll which she bought at a jumble sale at the age of six. This rare album was released in Japan alone, in extremely limited numbers (popularly quoted as between 1000 and 5000 copies pressed). The sound is very much Orbit's, but several songs were co-written, and some tracks were later recycled, in very different versions). "She Cries Your Name" later appeared on what she now considers her debut album (''Trailer Park''). "Yesterday's Gone" became "Montok Point" for the fourth Strange Cargo release ''Hinterland'' in 1995. That album featured Beth on several tracks as vocalist, and also included an alternative version of "She Cries Your Name".

It was roughly at this time that she met Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers and began the first in a series of collaborations, supplying vocals to the tracks "Alive Alone" and "One Too Many Mornings" on 1995's ''Exit Planet Dust''.

''Trailer Park''

Her first solo release, a cover of The Ronettes' "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine" was released, again in extremely limited numbers, in mid 1996, and was followed by "She Cries Your Name", shortly before the release of what she herself considers to be her début L.P. ''Trailer Park'', released on Heavenly Records on 19 October 1996. This release earned her nominations for two BRIT Awards (best British newcomer, best British female), and the Mercury Music Prize in 1997, was well received by critics, and sold modestly well, shifting 300,000 copies and peaking at #68 in the UK. The album was produced by Andrew Weatherall, whom she selected based on his production of one of her favourite records at the time, Primal Scream's ''Screamadelica''. The album was far removed from her previous work, with a lot more pop/folk tunes present, although there were more than a few hints of her electronic roots. She began to tour this record, first supporting acts such as The Beautiful South, and appearing with Ron Sexsmith, before breaking out on her own. In June 1997, she had her first UK Top 40 hit single with a reissue of "She Cries Your Name".

''Central Reservation''

She toured that summer with Lilith Fair, as well as releasing the ''Best Bit'' EP, improving on her previous best chart position, reaching #38 in the UK. ''Central Reservation'', her second album (proper), helped Orton build on the success of her début. Although retaining the electronic edge of the former, this record showed a notably more acoustic side with several tracks consisting purely of Beth's vocal accompanied by a solitary acoustic guitar, with subject matters becoming more introspective, including "Pass in Time", a song about the death of her mother. Despite this style, the album still provided more polished moments such as lead single "Stolen Car" and the electro melancholy of "Stars All Seem to Weep" (with the haunting vocal allegedly recorded in a single take) or the jazz-and-strings-tinged "Sweetest Decline", songs which cut a much deeper mark than the more glossy feel of her debut. The album also featured notable contributions from folk musician Terry Callier, Dr. Robert and Ben Harper. Two tracks were also produced by Ben Watt of Everything But The Girl.

The album earned Orton a second Mercury Music Prize nomination and won the Best Female Artist award at the 2000 BRIT Awards.

''Daybreaker''

In July 2002 she released the album ''Daybreaker'', which again blended the early electronica style, with up tempo pop songs and acoustic ballads. It featured guest appearances from musicians such as The Chemical Brothers, Emmylou Harris, whom she met at Lilith Fair, Ryan Adams and Four Tet. It was a great commercial success, reaching the top 8 of the UK album chart, and received largely positive from the press, ranging from "''Her best work yet''" from ''Mojo'' magazine, the ''NME'' (8/10),''Rolling Stone'' and ''The Guardian'', but receiving a more lukewarm reception from ''Q'' (Despite this she was nominated for the Q award for best album). This was followed in 2003 by an U.S. only release on American label Astralwerks, ''The Other Side of Daybreak'', an album consisting mainly of b-sides and remixes of songs from ''Daybreaker'', created by artists such as Roots Manuva. She also contributed a song to the War Child charity, for their ''Hope'' compilation album that year.

A "best of" double album, entitled ''Pass In Time'', was released in 2003. It represented Orton's extensive and diverse musical career through previously unreleased songs, b-sides, and rarities (such as "Where Do You Go" from ''Superpinkymandy''), as well as collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers. The highlight of her career arguably came on 31 March 2003, when she played to a packed Royal Albert Hall in London on the last date of her worldwide ''Daybreaker'' tour. In addition, she played a tribute concert to Elliott Smith in November.

''Comfort of Strangers''

Orton's fourth studio album ''Comfort of Strangers'' was released in February 2006. The North American release was through Astralwerks, and the UK release was through EMI-UK. The release saw her move away from the electronica element that she is usually associated with, to a more stripped down traditional alt-folk album. This album followed an extended absence since her previous release, partially a result of several failed production attempts, and the parting of ways between her and Heavenly Records. The album was produced by the musician Jim O'Rourke.

Band

Her consistent band from 1999's ''Central Reservation'' until around 2006 was guitarist Ted Barnes, keyboardist Sean Read, ex-Sandals drummer Will Blanchard and former Red Snapper member Ali Friend on bass. However, this had changed by 2008, with Ali and Ted having moved on to form their own band Clayhill, and Ted having pursued his own projects, with Beth guesting on his solo debut album, Short Scenes. Only Sean remained in her current live band as of 2008, although Clayhill have played as the support act on both her UK and US tours to promote ''Comfort of Strangers''. Her current band (2008) consists of Leroy Bach, drummer Matt Johnson and upcoming guitarist Emmett Kelly.

SING with Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox joined forces with Beth Orton and 22 other female artists to raise awareness of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to unborn children in Africa. The single "Sing" was first released on World AIDS Day on 1 December 2007, in conjunction with Annie Lennox's appearance at the Nelson Mandela 46664 concert in South Africa.

New album

Orton has left her longtime record label and will begin work on a follow up album to ''Comfort Of Strangers'' which will be released sometime in 2011 on ANTI-. Some new material has been written and performed already.

Personal life

Orton gave birth to a daughter, Nancy, in mid-December 2006. She cancelled her September 2006 UK tour because of her pregnancy.

She is a well known opponent of the "War on Terror", and played at the ''One Big No'' concert in March 2003 at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, organised by Emily Eavis.

In the Telegraph interview she revealed that in the past she had shunned several opportunities to raise her public profile, on ethical grounds. Such opportunities included becoming the face of Calvin Klein and promoting the sales of her records at Starbucks coffee outlets. While she is a supporter of Fairtrade, she has subsequently relented on this last stance.

All of her recent releases are "carbon neutral", whereby a tree is planted in a poor area of Mexico for every certain amount of units produced, to offset the emissions generated when pressing the CDs and other marketing paraphernalia.

She has also been offered the opportunity to return to her first love, acting. Having played the lead female in the independent film ''Southlander'', she was offered to audition for the role of John Cusack's girlfriend in the film ''High Fidelity''. She states that she would act, if an appropriate part came up for her.

Discography

Albums

''SuperPinkyMandy'' (Japan only - 1993)

''Trailer Park'' (1996) - UK #68

''Central Reservation'' (1999) - U.S. #110, UK #17

''Daybreaker'' (2002) - U.S. #40, UK #8

''The Other Side of Daybreak'' (2003)

''Pass In Time: The Definitive Collection'' (2003) UK #45

''Comfort of Strangers'' (February 2006) - U.S. #92, CAN #89, UK #24

''TBA (2011) - ANTI-

EPs

''Best Bit EP'' (14 December 1997) #36 UK

''Concrete Sky EP'' (15 July 2002)

Singles

"Don't Wanna Know 'Bout Evil" (as Spill) (1992)

"I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine" (1997)

"She Cries Your Name" (26 September 1996)

"Touch Me with Your Love" (1997) #60 UK

"Someone's Daughter" (24 March 1997) #49 UK

"She Cries Your Name" (re-issue) (2 June 1997) #40 UK

"Stolen Car" (22 February 1999) #34 UK, #32 US Modern Rock

"Central Reservation" (13 September 1999) #37 UK

"Anywhere" (2002) #55 UK

"Thinking About Tomorrow" (2003) #57 UK

"Conceived" (29 November 2005 - Digital download, 30 January 2006) #44 UK

"Shopping Trolley" (26 June 2006) #87 UK

Guest spots / rarities

Soundtrack and compilation appearances

"Frankie" - live recording of the Mississippi John Hurt folk ballad on the ''The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited'' compilation.

"Ooh Child" - a cover of the Five Stairsteps' song contributed to the Warchild charity's ''Hope'' compilation album.

"Sisters of Mercy" - a cover of the Leonard Cohen song, for the ''Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man'' soundtrack.

"What A Wonderful World" - a cover of the Louis Armstrong song, for the ''Starbucks ''Winter Wonderland Christmas 2008 Album''.

"Wild World" - a cover of the Cat Stevens' song, for the ''How To Deal'' soundtrack.

"I Me Mine/Dig It" - a cover of the Beatles song, for the Mojo magazine coverdisc ''Let It Be Revisted''. Also available as a limited cover mounted vinyl.

A remix of "Carmella" was featured in a Adult Swim bump.

with Chemical Brothers

vocalist for "Alive Alone", on ''Exit Planet Dust'' (1995).

vocalist for "Where Do I Begin" on ''Dig Your Own Hole'' (1997).

vocalist for "The State We're In" on ''Come With Us'' (2002).

with William Orbit

vocalist for "Water From a Vine Leaf" on ''Strange Cargo III'' (1993).

vocalist for "Million Town", "Kiss of the Bee" and "She Cries Your Name" on ''Strange Cargo Hinterland'' (1995).

with Red Snapper

vocalist for "Snapper" on ''Snapper EP'' (1994).

vocalist for "In Deep" on ''The Swank EP'' (1994).

: Both collected on ''Reeled and Skinned'' (1995).

with Bert Jansch

vocalist for "Watch the Stars", "Katie Cruel" and "When the Sun Comes Up" on ''The Black Swan'' (2006).

Other collaborations

"Beautiful Way" - a duet found on Beck's ''Midnite Vultures''.

"Brown Sugar" - a duet with Ryan Adams, featured in a free CD from ''Uncut''.

"Dice" - a Finley Quaye song sampling Beth's vocals from 'Roll The Dice,' originally from her album ''SuperPinkyMandy''.

"Inside" - guesting on New Buffalo's album ''The Last Beautiful Day''.

"Love Can Do" - found on Terry Callier's ''Lifetime''.

"No Expectations" - recorded with Beck, unreleased.

"Ted's Waltz" (remaster) - an alternative version of her own song, appearing on her guitarist Ted Barnes' album, ''Short Scenes''.

"Untouchable (Part 2)" - a duet with Princess Superstar on her album ''Princess Superstar Is''.

"You Better Mind" - a duet with Sam Amidon on his album ''I See The Sign''.

Filmography

''Southlander''

''Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

''Charmed: 9 February 2003 'Sand Francisco Dreamin' (Season 5, Episode 14)

See also

List of singer-songwriters

References

External links

Beth Orton Official site (UK)

Astralwerks site Official site (North America)

Official MySpace page

www.beth-orton.net Resource site

Category:1970 births Category:Astralwerks artists Category:Living people Category:English folk singers Category:English female singers Category:English female guitarists Category:English pop singers Category:English singer-songwriters Category:Heavenly Records artists Category:People from East Dereham Category:BRIT Award winners

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