Reviewed by Matthew STARVOX
ONLINE MAGAZINE
Though
there are an impressive and promising number of newer bands on the scene
right now that have riveted my attention, my deepest and most assionate
love of Gothic Music is rooted in the past. A few summer’s ago,
after stumbling across an And Also The Trees CD in a used bin, I have
been attempting to assemble and investigate all those special gems from
the mid 80’s ‘high period’ of Gothic Rock, that fell
through the cracks. Sure, we all have Dawnrazor and Floodland and Tinderbox,
(I hope) but there were a number of lesser-mentioned bands that deserve
the same, if not more recognition for their contributions to the development
of the genre. Along my search, I stumbled across a few mp3s of very
early All About Eve, a band I knew very little about other than Julianne
Regan’s connections with The Mission UK and Marty from The Church
had served as a guitarist for the band for a number of years. Other
than that, they were pretty much new to me.
The two Mp3’s in question were “D
Is For Desire” and “Don’t Follow
Me, March Hare,” both of which were shaded with an early
Cocteaus and Banshees vibe, but there was definitely a crackling spark
of power and muscle that set All About Eve on a plateau all their own.
The tracks were from around ’85 or ’86, and were recorded
as b-sides a few years before the band inked a deal with Polygram records
and recorded their debut self-titled release. So my immediate reaction,
like many Goths of my generation, was, “where can I buy the CD?”
Of course, the songs were not available on CD. I finally acquired a
copy of the band’s debut album, and as much as I liked it, it
was a bit more polished and some in the kindest possible way, a bit
sugar coated for my tastes (it has long since grown on me ;P) But it
definitely lacked the raw Post Punk punch of the material I had heard
via the mp3’s.
I did some more digging and found there were a few
more songs from the period prior to the release of their first album,
but had no luck finding the tracks online. So I basically gave up and
just burned what I had to a mixed CD.
Lo and behold, a few issues ago, one of my peers at
StarVox ran an interview with Ms. Regan and I discovered that All About
Eve are alive and well, and had recorded some new material and had embarked
on a small tour. After being directed to the band’s website, my
heart skipped a beat when I saw advertised Return To Eden – a
collection of the band’s early pre-Polygram singles and B sides!
Finally, after many years, these tracks were made available again and
for the first time, on an official band approved release.
When I finally had the disc in my hands, my anticipation
was bursting and I sat and listened to the first five songs in absolute
astonished bliss. The wait was definitely worth it! Following the two
aforementioned tracks was “Suppertime,”
a song that had previously been available on a rare magazine compilation
entitled “Gunfire & Pianos.” It certainly
didn’t deserve to be lost in obscurity. Despite some admittedly
quirky lyrics, the music is outstanding, with the gorgeous jangle of
overdriven guitars, interlocking bass lines and shuffling, snapping
drum work that defines the Gothic Rock sound. Despite the brooding Post
Punk sensibility, there is as well a foreshadowing of All About Eve’s
mastery of catchy pop hooks and memorable melodies.
The driving gloom of “End Of The Day”
follows, perhaps my favourite of all the first five tracks on the album.
A thick bass line rumbles above deep mid paced drums, accented by eerie
pinch harmonics and Julianne’s nwavering alto. The song crescendos
into a spiral of stark psychedelic guitar wizardry and continues to
blast along at full force until the song draws to a magnificent close.
I love it. “Love Leads Nowhere” is weighed
with an even deeper melancholy, falling somewhere between early U2 and
the manic Death Rock of the legendary Skeletal Family and Xmal Deutschland.
The track is the perfect blend of dark mood and melody, and is another
rarely heard masterpiece.
I remember reading in one of Mick Mercer’s books
that at one of All About Eve’s concerts, they had played in front
of a banner that read “Goth RIP.” While
probably the first five tracks on this compilation are the only tracks
in the band’s discography that could be comfortably and unanimously
tagged as Goth,’ they were masterpieces in their own right. They
really didn’t need to continue on in the same style, as they had
already perfected it.
All
About Eve really didn’t develop or become comfortable with their
own sound until on the debut release, where they really began to come
into their own. A decidedly more uplifting, melodic, and accessible
sound, they may be one of the most overlooked 80s alternative/pop outfits.
There was substance to their music from the beginning and probably always
will be, and it is a shame they didn’t achieve more widespread
success.
Whatever the case, I loose sight of my purpose here.
While All About Eve were never a straight up ‘Goth’ band,
I cannot recommend this release enough to fans of vintage Goth Rock
and Post Punk music. In addition to the early unavailable 12”
b sides, a wealth of demo tracks and alternate versions of material
recorded for the first album makes up the rest of this 70 minute compilation.
Classic tracks like “In The Clouds,” “Shelter
From The Rain,” “Every Angel”
and “Flowers In Our Hair” appear in earlier,
rawer and perhaps more aggressive forms here. The latter, “Flowers
In Our Hair” appears in both its demo and extended forms, both
of which are anthematic and powerfully animated gems of uplifting melancholia.
That track had always been my favourite from the debut release, but
these versions are twice as good.
“Our Summer,” the band’s
second single and a track, which unfortunately did not appear on the
debut album, is probably one of my all time favourite All About Eve
songs. Two versions appear here, the 7” single mix as well as
an extended mix. I honestly can’t pinpoint it exactly, but the
song is animated with such genuine sweetness and uplifting melodic power
that I can’t help but feel ‘good’ every time I hear
this song. Of course, you might be thinking “how very UN-Goth
of you” but despite the rumours and reports that I am always a
crabby forlorn Grinch, I have my frequent spells where I do not want
to bring an end to Christmas and I enjoy a good pop tune. Unlike much
of the over produced and sappy drivel that defined mainstream 80s radio,
THIS is what a nostalgic walk through summer fields should sound like,
and “Our Summer” stands as one of my all time favourite
songs.
I could gush about this disc for hours (and I am aware
that IS what I am doing), it is just so splendid and perfect in every
way. While not my usual blend of oppressive Death Rock or Doom, this
is one of the most fantastic collections of vintage Goth Rock material
available today. If you have ever at all been curious about All About
Eve, then this is the CD for you to begin your love affair with this
band. If you are a longtime fan, then there is A LOT here to be thankful
for to complete the band’s ‘pre-discography.’ Honestly,
buy this now. It is available directly from Julianne and the band at
their website. You won’t regret
it.
Track List:
1.) D Is For Desire
2.) Don’t Follow Me, March Hare
3.) Suppertime
4.) End Of The Day
5.) Love Leads Nowhere
6.) In The Clouds (first version)
7.) Appletree Man (demo)
8.) Shelter From The Rain (b-side)
9.) Every Angel (demo)
10.) In The Meadow (demo)
11.) Our Summer (single)
12.) Lady Moonlight (b-side)
13.) Our Summer (extended mix)
14.) Flowers In Our Hair (single)
15.) Paradise (b-side)
16.) Devil Woman (b-side)
17.) Flowers In Our Hair (extended mix)
All About Eve was:
Tim Bricheno (Guitars)
Andy Cousin (Bass)
Julianne Regan (Voice, Keyboards)
James Richard Jackson (Bass)
Manuela Zwingmann (Drums)
07/05/02
Return
To Eden: The Early Recordings
