Acclaimed British singer-songwriter Beth Orton has signed to Astralwerks Records for North America. Orton is currently working on new material for a new album, which is due early next year.

The album will be Orton's third and first since the 1998's BMG-distributed Central Reservation. (Her full-length debut was Trailer Park.)

Orton is still signed to Heavenly Recordings in the U.K. Astralwerks and Heavenly first teamed up last year to release the Doves' debut Lost Souls.

JOHN D. LUERSSEN
(April 11, 2001)