Candyfloss & Medicine

by Eddi Reader

Overview

No surprises here for fans of Eddi Reader's special brand of swooningly pretty folk-rock. All the elements are in place: the melodies that are so simple that there's no reason why they should make you stop whatever you're doing and close your eyes in pleasure, the unapologetic Scots burr that colors every vowel she sings, the multi-tracked harmonies that cascade blissfully down through every chorus, and the lyrics that simultaneously revel in the glory of romantic love and mourn the wreckage it inevitably leaves behind. Then, of course, there are the chiming guitars that just dare you to hold their obviousness against them, knowing you won't be able to. As usual, there are no real rave-ups here; instead, you get the achingly bittersweet breakup croon "Sugar on the Pill" ("Tell me when it's over/So I can move on"), the luxurious hometown ode "Glasgow Star," and a rather dark-hued arrangement of the traditional "I Loved a Lad." Things muscle up just a bit for the retro-soulful "If You Got a Minute, Baby," but that's as tough as she gets on this aptly titled album. Fans of the British folk-rock scene will recognize the fingerprints of her collaborator, Boo Hewerdine, in the melodies and the arrangements, and let's hope they keep working together in the future. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	07/15/1997
Label:	Reprise / Warner Bros.
UPC:	0093624637028
Rank:	179595

Tracks

1. Glasgow Star
2. Candyfloss
3. Rebel Angel
4. Sugar on the Pill
5. Semi Precious
6. Medicine
7. If You Got a Minute, Baby
8. Lazy Heart
9. Shall I Be Mother
10. Butterfly Jar
11. I Loved a Lad
12. Darkhouse

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Eddi Reader   Primary Artist,Harmonica,Guitar (Acoustic),Concertina
Anthony Thistlethwaite   Guest Artist,Mandolin
Dominic Miller   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric Nylon String)
Boo Hewerdine   Guest Artist,Percussion,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Bernard Butler   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Calum MacColl   Guitar,Zither,Dulcimer,Penny Whistle,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Roy Dodds   Drums,Tambourine,Peruvian Percussion
Annie Whitehead   Trombone
Martin Green   Sax (Soprano)
Electra Strings   Strings
Teddy Borowiecki   Bass,Organ,Piano,Melodica,Timbales,Accordion,Keyboards,Music Box,Wurlitzer,Glockenspiel,Fender Rhodes,Bass (Electric),Organ (Hammond),Guitar (Electric)
David Piltch   Bass (Electric)

Technical Credits

Ron Warshow   Assistant Engineer
Calum MacColl   Composer
Gerry O'Riordan   Engineer
Simon Wall   Assistant Engineer
David Bottrill   Mixing,Engineer
Jules Singleton   String Arrangements
Adrian Scarff   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Daniel Gilliland   Assistant Engineer
Teddy Borowiecki   Composer,Engineer,Producer,String Arrangements
Boo Hewerdine   Composer
Eddi Reader   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Garrity   Composer
Traditional   Composer