My predictions from years past don’t always come to pass (neither Robyn nor Sky Ferreira has yet to take off in a major way), but I’ve no doubt that 2012 will go down in the history books as one of music’s best years. Six months in and we’ve already been spoiled with an impressive stack of spinworthy new music, with even more artists still on deck to deliver.

Set to add yet another gold star to 2012’s tally is Beth Orton, who releases Sugaring Season on October 2. The British singer-songwriter’s first studio album since 2006’s Comfort Of Strangers was recorded in Portland, Oregon, and produced by Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Laura Veirs). Sugaring Season also marks Orton’s first on her new label, Anti- Records, home to Kate Bush, Bob Mould, and A Girl Called Eddy (who’s taking much too long to follow up her stunning 2004 eponymous debut).

Orton’s first single from Sugaring Season is the orchestral “Something More Beautiful.” The gently swaying tune is hypnotic, at least before she breaks out into moments of total ache, her soul laid bare. Also, until this moment, I never picked up on how much Orton sounds like Sinead O’Connor. More beautiful, indeed.

Here’s the tracklisting for Sugaring Season:

01 “Magpie”
02 “Dawn Chorus”
03 “Candles”
04 “Something More Beautiful”
05 “Call Me The Breeze”
06 “Poison Tree”
07 “See Through Blue”
08 “Last Leaves Of Autumn”
09 “State Of Grace”
10 “Mystery”

Orton’s also setting out on a U.S. tour this fall to promote her album’s release, followed by dates back home in the UK.

Free download of Beth Orton – “Something More Beautiful” via Amazon MP3.