Espresso Logic finds Chris Rea taking life a little less serious than on his last two releases. The songs are generally more pop friendly and the lyrical commentary is brighter and more trival. Sometimes that doesn't work to good effect, like on "Julia" for example. But Rea maintains his moments of moody atmospherics, such as the dream-like intro to "Espresso Logic" and on "Miles is a Cigarette," both being fine songs. Rea should have made the Top 40 on some format or another with "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" and the spectacular riffery towards the end of that track. Much the same could be said for "Johnny needs a Fast Car." If you only are familiar with Rea's work through "The Road to Hell" and found that album interesting, it would be worth your while to track this one down.

I have a German release of Espresso Logic which has a different track line-up and some completely different songs. The edition I have is all new material which I think makes it superior to the rehash of God's Great Banana Skin that the album here presents.
Nonetheless, Espresso Logic is a nice album in either form. You could say it's just more of the same from Chris Rea, and I have noticed that he uses the same riff again and again. The riff on Johnny Needs a Fast Car was used before on the songs Auberge and Just Wanna Be With You (from The Road to Hell). But it's a nice riff.
Chris always starts his albums well. The title track is a pleasant moody intro to the album, and Julia, the obvious single, is a strong pop song with an infectious drum line. On the Euro release, Julia only turns up later (beginning of side two on the LP version). Soup of the Day is more true blues, as are some of the latter songs (New Way and Stop, which are not on this version) The aforementioned Johnny Needs a Fast Car is a catchy piece, another one of my favorites.
God's Great Banana Skin and Miles is a Cigarette were repeated here from the 'Banana Skin album for some reason. If You Were Me is from Elton John's Duets album, probably included here just to please commercial listeners.

Espresso Logic is different enough from his other CD's to keep your attention, yet retains enough of the voice and guitar to continue to define Chris Rea as one of a kind. If you can listen to She Closed Her Eyes without a shiver and a sigh, you aren't paying attention. A must for fans, and a good place to start for the newcomer.

With such a variety of tunes, I find this to be the best work yet. The duet with Elton John, "If You Were Me" is a must for any collection.

I happened to buy my first Chris Rea album at a Half Price Book Store and became a fan. The music is thoughtful, tuneful, off the beaten path. "Espresso Logic" is the best.