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Latest News - Band Split! AAE came to prominence in 1987 after a few singles on the independent Eden label. Signed to Phonogram, the eponymous first album introduced the charts to singer Julianne Regan's superb vocals, backed by a sometimes folky, sometimes rock guitar-based sound. The occaisional mournful track or lyric meant that the goth label was sometimes applied, but there are as many uplifting AAE tracks as darker ones.
Image (c) 2003 Ian Marchant The albums Scarlet and Other Stories and Touched by Jesus followed, then AAE were dropped by Phonogram and signed to MCA. The album Ultraviolet followed, adding a shoegazerish layer to the AAE sound. However UV didn't match MCA's sales expectations and the band split in 1995. UV has since taken it's place as a great AAE album among fans, many of whom (me included) did not take to it on release. It is very difficult to get hold of but worth every penny. AAE reformed in 1999 to support The Mission. They liked playing live so much that they have just about been touring ever since. They have also released 2 acoustic and two electric live albums, a live DVD, a compilation from the Eden label days, the Iceland mini-CD in December 2002 of new tracks and covers and the single Let Me Go Home in May 2004, all on their new Jam Tart label. All the News that
is the News: In 2004 All About Eve broke up. Julianne's view on the split can be found on the Candytree web site. It may or may not be permanent...... Meanwhile AAE's last single Let Me Go Home is still available at Amazon. Let me go Home is a fantastic song and the 2 CD format features great mixes, another new song (Aquamarina) and a cover of The Cure track Apart. CD1: (order from Amazon)
CD2: (order from Amazon)
Title: Drowning On: December (single) (1989) and Winter Words (Hits and Rarities) (1992) There's a drowning man A bass beat intro complimented by tambourine leads into a slow dark atmospheric track topped with Julianne adopting a more breathy vocal. Stunning and probably my favourite.
Title: End of the Day On: Return to Eden (2002) I spy a golden sky What a undiscovered gem! An early AAE song with the faster pace and slightly rawer edge of the Eden label era. The vocals are on top form with a soaring chorus. Up there with Drowning.
Title: Shelter From The Rain On: All About Eve (1988) A great ballad from the first album and still a live favourite. A long-ish intro leads into classic autumnal lyrics.
Title: December On: December (single) (1989) and Scarlet and Other Stories (1989) A bittersweet rocky ballad about the past with an unsuprisingly wintery theme. One of the best examples of the use of backing vocals on an AAE song. These I guess are mostly done by Julianne herself and are generally missing from live performances.
Title: Only One Reason On: Scarlet and Other Stories (1989) If there's Sunday in their eyes When I first heard this I knew Scarlet was going to be a good album. The penultimate track on the LP starts off with an almost acoustic riff and the above vocals. We get 2 verses and 2 choruses, the latter with understated backing vocals and then it kicks into a rocky solo. The tracks rounds off with the acoustic guitar and again and haunting vocals.
Title: The Garden Of Jane Delawney On: What Kind of Fool 12"/CD Single (1988) A cover of a song by The Trees, this has tragedy written all over it. Acoustic guitar perfectly complimented by Julianne's story-telling vocals. An honorable runner-up to Drowning in the favourite song stakes.
Title: What Kind of Fool (Autumn Rhapsody) On: What Kind of Fool 12"/CD Single (1988) Reach for the stars This song is Autumn for me. AAE dump the percussion and most of the guitar and go for strings in this version. Another song that runs Drowning close.
Title: Road to Your Soul (extended version) On: Road to Your Soul 12"/CD (1989). Original on Scarlet and Other Stories (1989) Close a chapter on journey This song really does rise and soar. I prefer the extended version simply because it makes a great track even longer.
Title: Ravens On: Touched By Jesus (1991) Who's been dreaming about our black feathered friends then? A strange tale of ravens set to a fairly up-beat tempo and a folky violin.
Title: Are you Lonely? On: Touched By Jesus (1991) Back to the melancholy but beautiful with a ballad about isolation.
Title: Freeze On: Ultraviolet (1994) My hallucination, every drug that I need As you might guess from the above, this is a little more on the erotic side. It's a more laid back, 90s Indie of a track that builds into a moderate crescendo at each chorus. An up-beat song simply about being in love. Candytree - the official site with the latest news. Julianne's web site - a more personal site with info about Julianne's other projects. Unofficial - but approved fan site with loads of goodies - interviews, pictures, gigography.... |
