Following the fabulous redux edition of The Songs Of Robert Burns a few months ago, it's turned into a bumper year for Eddi Reader fans. Or has it? Well read on to find out. Despite being recorded right in the centre of Glasgow in Argyle Street (over a railway line that you can sometimes hear), the sound is airy and sunny. The band played live and mostly consist of her usual collaborators, and altogether they had so much fun that what was supposed to be a few sessions to generate some extra new tracks for a 'Best Of' album yielded this stand alone full release.It's a less folky and more easy listening experience this time out, but the gentle touch of Eddi's richly textured voice is ladled across each track like honey to keep them sweet. Her choice of songs starts well, with a leading triplet of tunes that are warmly welcoming and set the relaxed and optimistically romantic tone that pervades throughout. The following mildly jazzy number grates. I've always had a problem with the usual chug-chug beat and brushed drums, but even allowing for that bias 'Dandelion' is below par. To compensate, and to give a glimpse of Eddi's glorious sense of humour, there's a charming mid-album pick-me-up where Fleetwood Mac's 'Never Going Back Again' is reworked. It starts as a tinkling old time piano led instrumental, but Eddi seemingly improvises a few verses: "You broke down and you let me in / I first heard this song in our van / You told me I was good luck / I'm 17 in Kilmarnock / Never going to be that again." Totally beguiling. You can hear her wicked smile oozing from the record. With the final trio comes the most deliberately poppy track, 'Roses', and the most anthemic balladry of 'My Shining Star' and 'I Won't Stand In Your Way'. Possibly major/minor key formulaic but more than pleasant all the same.So, altogether a dollop of loveliness that will be lapped up by those who already know her but a bit predictably mild to go very far in making new converts here I would venture. Still, being of a certain age and with such a self-assured talent, Eddi probably doesn't care. All she wants if for you "to dance with bare feet, singing along with me". Give me some room people: the shoes are coming off. Also, having finished this carefully keeping free of Scottish stereotyping (one Scot flipped his ginger wig previously), I'll finish with this: what's the Scottish cure for seasickness? Answer: put your head over the side of the boat with a fifty pence piece between your teeth. Boom boom. 74%Eddi Reader on MySpace