Electric Universe was produced by Maurice White for Kalimba Productions.[1]
With Electric Universe came a unique new wave & synth pop sound for EWF.[9]
Gary Graff of the Detroit Free Press exclaimed "Plug in the planets! This is the best disc this outfit has put together in quite some time."[22] Lennox Samuels of the Dallas Morning News declared that "Electric Universe (Columbia) shows the bands resilience. Unlike the previous offering Powerlight this LP should please fans." Samuels added "Although most of the cuts here are characterized by mellow overtures, midway through the disc, colourful kalimba choruses and airy harmonies capture the high spirits of this nine member aggregation".[18] Although calling it a "letdown" Robert Christgau of the Village Voice gave the album a B grade.[13] Roger Catlin of the Omaha World Herald gave the album a four out of five star rating and declared EWF "seems to be trying to continue to branch out under leader Maurice White. Catlin also stated "he's testing out yet another theory for worldwide unity too, on Electric Universe in which electricity or magnetism plays a big role in getting everybody together - perhaps through static cling".[23] With a three out of five stars review Matty Karas of Rolling Stone described Electric Universe as being full of "sensuous, and at times, rock oriented dance material".[14][15] Pam Lambert of The Wall Street Journal exclaimed "after more than a decade together, Earth, Wind & Fire continue to chart new ground; their current album, "Electric Universe" (Columbia), deserves to win this black supergroup even more of a crossover audience than it has enjoyed in the past."[20] Phyl Garland of Stereo Review wrote "Although 'Electric Universe' does not scintillate with Earth, Wind & Fire's usual brilliance, it's skilfully crafted and worth a listen". Garland noted that EW&F's performance was "not among their best" but called the album a "very good recording".[25][26]Rick Shefchik of Knight Ridder gave the album a 7/10 rating stating "Fearing more of Maurice White's cosmic pablum, I was glad to notice the shift to concrete r&b on Side One, while the band retains its breathy mix of horns and voices". Shefchik added "White relinquished his songwriting role on the first three songs, and even the ones he did write seem to benefit from a less starry-eyed perspective. Unless, of course, you count Electric Nation and Spirit of a New World."[21] Prentis Rogers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote "In fact, the entire album holds up well lyrically and musically with a noticeable but not overpowering rock flavour. It may not signal a return to the group's standard of staying a note or two ahead of its contemporaries, but this is EWF's best album in recent years."[16]Robert Palmer of The New York Times proclaimed that "the rich vocal harmonies and lapidary pop craftsmanship listeners have learned to expect from Earth, Wind & Fire are still in evidence, but the group's instrumental sound has been radically stripped down and rethought."[24]
Don McLeese of The Chicago Sun Times also gave Electric Universe an honourable mention in his list of the top ten albums of 1983.[27]