Angels & Cigarettes

• Artist: Eliza Carthy
• Rating:
• Release Date: 2000
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Folk

Review

Eliza Carthy comes from a family steeped in traditional folk, so it may seem somewhat disconcerting to see her with blue-streaked hair and pierced nose. While the music itself shows that Carthy hasn't completely turned her back on her roots, she is clearly determined to make her own path. Grounded in the folk and singer/songwriter school, she doesn't mind lacing her sound with pop rhythms, keyboards, and even trip-hop. Call it experimental folk. "Beautiful Girl" pushes forward with electronics and driving drums, creating a catchy beat that wouldn't be out of place on a Madonna album. However, the difference is the words, with biting lyrics like "Beautiful girl I know you're probably dead clever/But you're only gorgeous once and you'll be clever forever." The opening track, "Whispers of Summer," is much more folky, with Carthy's fiddle rising above the drum track to create a danceable melody. This cut is more upbeat than much of the material on the album. "The Company of Men" begins with a lyric about giving sexual favors "to men who didn't want me anymore"; the more oblique "Poor Little Me" is about a death, perhaps an abortion. Songs like "Train Song" and "Fuse" explore love and lust, themes that run throughout Angels & Cigarettes. These lyrics are at times emotionally bare, and everyone may not be comfortable with Carthy's revelations. But she seems determined to purge these emotions by turning them into art. The result is ten well-written songs, filled with searching lyrics and an innovative sound. For those who enjoy folk that's willing to take musical chances, Angels & Cigarettes is a gratifying release. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Whispers Of Summer	Barnaby Stradling, Ben Ivitsky, Martin Green, Sam Thomas, Eliza Carthy	Eliza Carthy	(4:42)
Train Song	Eliza Carthy, Ben Ivitsky	Eliza Carthy	(4:03)
Beautiful Girl	Ben Ivitsky, Barnaby Stradling, Sam Thomas, Eliza Carthy	Eliza Carthy	(3:28)
Whole	Sam Thomas, Barnaby Stradling, Ben Ivitsky, Eliza Carthy	Eliza Carthy	(4:05)
Poor Little Me	Eliza Carthy, Barnaby Stradling, Sam Thomas, Martin Green, Ben Ivitsky	Eliza Carthy	(5:27)
The Company Of Men	Ben Ivitsky, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy	Eliza Carthy	(3:38)
Perfect	Ben Ivitsky, Eliza Carthy, Sam Thomas, Barnaby Stradling	Eliza Carthy	(3:57)
Wild Wood	Paul Weller	Eliza Carthy	(3:13)
Breathe	Sam Thomas, Barnaby Stradling, Ben Ivitsky, Eliza Carthy	Eliza Carthy	(4:14)
Fuse	Eliza Carthy	Eliza Carthy	(4:46)

Credits

Jake Rousham (Engineer), Eliza Carthy (Keyboards), Martin Carthy (Guitar), Van Dyke Parks (Arranger), Martin Green (Keyboards), Stéphane Briand (Engineer), Ben Ivitsky (Violin), Phil Johnson (Hammond Synth), Steve Martin (Representation), Ben Ivitsky (Vocals), Ben Ivitsky (Moog Lead), Leland Sklar (Bass), Al Scott (Mixing), Carole Steele (Conga), Eliza Carthy (Octave Violin), Al Scott (Engineer), Colin Walker (Engineer), Martin Green (Moog Lead), Van Dyke Parks (Conductor), Ben Ivitsky (Guitar), Heather Macleod (Noise), Eliza Carthy (Viola), Eliza Carthy (Vocals), Al Scott (Producer), Geoff Foster (Engineer), Carole Steele (Percussion), Eliza Carthy (Guitar), Gareth White (Art Direction), Al Scott (Organ), Gareth White (Design), Al Scott (Keyboards), Carol Steele (Conga), B.J. Cole (Pedal Steel), Carol Steele (Percussion), Alan Prosser (Guitar), Van Dyke Parks (Piano), Ben Ivitsky (Noise), Carole Steele (Bongos), Mondriaan Quartet (Strings), Tom Howard (Photography), Martin Green (Accordion), Carol Steele (Bongos), Phil Johnson (Organ (Hammond)), Eliza Carthy (Violin), Dolphin Boy (Programming), Lucy Adams (Noise)