New and Improved

New and Improved incorporates the album ‘Because I Can’ (originally released in 1996) along with 5 previously unreleased tracks and 3 b-sides from the singles released at that time. Almost 75 minutes of music. (All lyrics printed, absent from original release).

Co-written with Tim McTighe, (who went on to play with Echo & The Bunnymen), this was Julianne Regan’s breaking of the silence created following the split of her band All About Eve in the early nineties.

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As the split was an amicable one, members of All About Eve make occasional guest appearances on several of the tracks. Another key player in this adventure is Christian Hayes (a.k.a Bic) of long lost but magnificent prog-punk-indie darlings, Levitation. Lovingly and spikily engineered by Gary Stout who assisted Ed Buller in the production of the first two Suede albums. Includes the singles ‘Mats Prozac’, ‘The Milkman’ and ‘Dear Sir’.

What The Press Said ...

Mat’s Prozac (debut single) –
“In yer face fun from the ex-All About Eve singer, whose distorted vocals are laid over a grinding alternative number” – Music Week November ‘95

“Stop start rhythmic drive lining up alongside Regan’s ‘angel with a pickaxe’ vocal” - Rock’n’Reel Spring ‘96

The Milkman (second single) –
“A hooky, kooky, upbeat kind of thing with Julianne’s vocals drawing the listener in. Expect lots of indie interest” Music Week April ‘96

Dear Sir (third single) –
“Despite the conceptual improbability of being influenced by Sleeper, this belongs on the radio next to Belinda Carlisle” Melody Maker August ‘96

“A forcibly wised-up Regan has clearly spent the dole years after the break up of All About Eve considering her changing circumstances and modifying an already finely-honed pop sensibility. This, a stop / start chopping guitar races Regan through a surprisingly hedonistic mantra, all the while pursued by those angelic and ever-evolving backing vocals (something of a trademark that). Truly blissful stuff. Melody Maker Single Of The Week July 27th ‘96

“Truly emerging from the shadow of All About Eve, Julianne Regan sounds right at home on this hook-laden Britpop cracker” Music Week June ‘96

“A definite bid for Summer airplay, even if it does roller-coaster along on a melody line brazenly borrowed from Roxy’s Virginia Plain, a nick clearly acknowledged by titling the b-side ‘Pyjamadrma!” Brum Beat June ‘96

The album ‘Because I Can” –
“Once the moody singer in All About Eve, Julianne Regan strips off the pan stick to reveal a beautiful fresh face. A confection of oddball songs with titles like ‘Julie Christie’ and ‘Battersea’….” The Daily Mail August ‘96

“Pop with a capital P O P, dressed from head to foot in catchy hooks and breezy vocals. Mat’s Prozac sets the scene immediately, announcing itself as bouncy guitar pop with a slightly industrial, gritty edge, kind of like Garbage gone Britpop. ‘Star’ is a classic pop tune, where Julianne sounds like Dubstar’s Sarah Blackwood and ‘Dear Sir’ is good old-fashioned pop, with superb backing vocals and a guitar hook that sounds like The Cramps slowed down.

Because I Can is a fine debut album, ranging from dizzy pop heights to more bittersweet ballads with equal aplomb”. Hot Press August ‘96