The second proper album of Beth Orton, Central Reservation helped Orton build on the success of her debut, Trailer Park. 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.
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" or the jazz-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 (with whom she also recorded the b-side "Lean On Me"), Dr Robert and Ben Harper. Several tracks were also produced by Ben Watt of Everything But The Girl.
The album gave Orton a second Mercury Music Prize nomination, and won her Best Female at the BRIT Awards.
