ALL ABOUT EVE ALL ABOUT EVE Few bands bettered All About Eve when it came to remaining true to their goth principles while embracing pop – and this polished, gutsy album proves it. Haunting guitars and moody rhythm sections marinate much of this self-titled debut LP, but thanks to the cool, pure vocals of Julianne Regan and some disarming melodies, it’s also very much a ‘goth-pop’ effort – Wild Hearted Woman, In The Clouds and Flowers In Our Hair immaculately combine earnest lyrics with singalong melodies. Every Angel has sweet multi-tracked harmonies; Never Promise (Anyone Forever) has handclaps that could sound naff but don’t; and the uplifting acoustic guitars and strings on What Kind Of Fool, Gypsy Dance, In The Meadow and the immortal Martha’s Harbour – the biggest hit of their career and the gifted Regan’s crowning glory as a singer – showcase the group’s much-loved folksy motif.
The only whiffy moment is an idle adaptation of Irish folk song She Moves Through The Fair (later also remodelled by Simple Minds for Belfast Child), which sits uncomfortably with the rest of the record.