Eddi Reader
Album: Vagabond
Label: Reveal
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.eddireader.co.uk

Eddi Reader [born Sadenia Reader] has, for many years, been one of my favourite singers [something that I share with Jools Holland, apparently]. Like many others, I first heard Eddi's voice on Fairground Attraction's massive 1988 hit single "Perfect" and I can still clearly remember where I was when I first heard that record. I was knocked out by Eddi's voice and a quarter of a century later, I still am. I recently heard Eddi and Boo Hewerdine do a session for Radio 2 and my reaction was just the same as it had been when I heard "Perfect" for the first time.

By my reckoning "Vagabond" is Eddi's tenth solo studio album and it is a superb piece of work, which oozes quality from every pore. However, the circumstances surrounding the album's conception were somewhat difficult as Eddi's husband John Douglas [Trashcan Sinatras] was diagnosed with a serious illness [from which he is now, thankfully, on the road to recovery].

Eddi felt that she needed to "pull the fellas together and try recording live-if only to bring myself back to land". "The fellas" are Eddi's long term musical collaborators / friends , including the aforementioned Boo Hewerdine [guitar ] ; Alan Kelly [accordion]; Ewan Vernal [double bass]; Roy Dodds [from Fairground Attraction, drums]; Ian Carr [guitar] ; Gustaf Ljunggern [multi-instrumentalist] and, of course, husband John Douglas.

Listening to this album is like sitting down to a bowl of hot, homemade soup on a cold January day -it's hearty, warming and very satisfying. Eddi's vocals are superb and the playing by "The fellas" provides the perfect setting for her.

There are fourteen tracks on this album [although twenty six were recorded ] and each one is a gem. Whilst I could comfortably wax lyrical about all fourteen songs, lack of space means that I will have to restrict myself to picking out my absolute favourites.

The album begins with a cover of song from 1932, "I'll Never Be The Same", on which Eddi sounds, in places,not unlike Billie Holiday, which is not a bad thing at all. The track has a lovely period feel to it, due, in no small part, to Steve Hamilton's evocative piano-playing and Roy Dodds's deft brushwork. This is one of the tracks that I heard Eddi and Boo perform on the radio session and which reminded me of what a great singer Eddi is.

The title track "Vagabond" is adapted from a poem by John Masefield and set to music by Eddi and John to great effect. Eddi says that she "feels defined and owned by it" and her stunning singing is ably supported by Boo's backing vocals.

Eddi's version of Declan O'Rourke's "Married To The Sea" is enchanting and atmospheric, due in no small part to Gustaf's haunting lap steel.

"Macushla [My Darling]" is a great song by Michael Marra, which transports the listener to a country dancehall, where the aforementioned Macushla dances with her adoring young man. The song has an irresistible chorus and Eddi invites us to "sing it with me when you are dancing the two-step around your kitchen". How could you refuse?

Eddi's song "Midnight In Paris 1979" is an evocation of a trip she made to that city when she was nineteen years old, when she sang in cafes and busked on the streets.The song has a distinctly Gallic flavour, courtesy of Phil Cunningham's accordion and Gustaf's Bechet-like clarinet. This is a beautifully atmospheric track, you can almost smell the Gauloises and taste the croissants.

The closing track "It's A Beautiful Night" is a typically superb Boo Hewerdine song on the theme of finding beauty in the moment. Boo is a great songwriter and as Eddi says "he nailed it in this lyric".Eddi sings Boo's lovely lyrics with great feeling, perfectly accompanied by Gustaf's elegant steel guitar.

I feel a little guilty in picking out certain tracks when they are all wonderful. The best thing is for you to listen to the whole album, so that you get the full picture. You will not be disappointed.

Peter Cowley