Angels & Electricity

Eddi Reader

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B00000I9N8
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,816 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Encompassing everything from understated acoustic ballads to jangly, guitar-driven pop, Eddi Reader's folk-rock hybrid rarely plays it straight. Picking up where she left off with 1997's Candyfloss and Medicine, Reader remains true to her own unique and enjoyable muse. Of course, it doesn't hurt that her always-amazing voice is in top form. "Prayer Wheel," with its exuberant chorus, masks a story of lost love behind a veneer of unadulterated pop. As usual, Reader draws on a number of songwriters to compile a topnotch collection of songs (including one, "On a Whim," written for her by Ron Sexsmith). But the best songs here are the ones written by or with longtime musical partner Boo Hewerdine: "Bell, Book and Candle" is a gorgeous, haunting tale of lost love, while "California" has a truly greasy groove to go with Reader's equally sexy vocals. Besides, it's always endearing to hear a Glasgow gal work her way around the word "California." --Percy Keegan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heart on her sleeve, November 23, 2000

By	Kim Liddelow (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

I've been a fan of Eddi since I first heard Mirmana playing in a music store in Cambridge in England in the early 90's. Since then I've bought all her releases almost on the day they were released and seen her in concert 3 times. The last time at a small pub in Cambridge where she played with long time songwriting partner Boo Hewerdine. What a great evening that was! Mirmana was her rather naive first outing after the Fairground Attraction days. The 2nd self-titled album was her attempt to capture an audience and was a commercial success in the UK. Candyfloss and Medicine to me seemed an attempt by her record company to reinvent Eddi as some new glossy pop star but despite that it contained great music. It failed commercially and she was dropped by her label. Angel & Electricity took a long time to find a home.

Despite everything she has been through the music still contains her wonderful voice singing songs about life, love, desperation, relationships, sorrow, joy and contentment. If you are new to her music I would humbly suggest buying the second album, Eddi Reeder, and go on from there. The more of you who do it the more chance I'll have of getting to buy her 5th album...

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So glad I bought this...a new artist to add to my favorites, November 7, 2001

By A Customer

I bought this CD to get Bell Book and Candle after hearing it on the televison show Charmed. Boy, was I surprised at what a good CD it truly is. I had never heard of Eddi Reader until I heard the song- I did not know what I was missing. Her voice is beautiful and the lyrics to the songs on this CD are so emotional they will tug at your heart. In addition to Bell Book and Candle other favorites of mine are Kiteflyer's Hill, Prayer Wheel and Postcard. To be honest, I don't think there is a bad song on the album. I would recommend everyone to give this artist a try. I will certainly be buying more of her music.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, November 1, 1999

By	Jessica (Berkely, CA) - See all my reviews

I came to this album because I loved Fairground Attraction way back when but sort of forgot about them until the other day. So I went searching on the web and was surpised to find Eddi Reader had put out all theses albums ( I had heard she completey retired to raise a kid.)One of the most pleasing aspects about this album is the instrumentation, a lot like Fairground, traditional instruments and unclassifiable styles...and of course, she has that incredible voice. I truly love this album (not so crazy about track two, "Angels and Electricity", cause it just doesn't seem to fit in with the other songs stylistically. Although, if one song was to ever make it commercially, track two would be it.) I just ordered a copy for a dear friend and "Candyfloss and Medicine" for me. Looking forward to hearing more and more. Beautiful all the way around.