In Hell by Eve Adams

It’s not like we’ve been long time followers of Eve Adams. We found out about her around the release of her third record ‘Metal Bird’, in early 2021. A great album that led us to dig through the rest of her discography. We were delighted to find out she’d already put out an ep and two albums. It was ‘In Hell’, released on cassette in 2017, that struck us in particular. An album that, in our opinion, demands to be listened to on vinyl.

Eve Adams makes ‘American music’ inspired by a bygone era. A personal and intimate take on 50’s popular music styles: blues, r&b, folk and soul. Arrangements are sparse: a guitar, some keys, minimalist percussion and her vocals. With just these elements Adams conjures a brooding world of dark romance. Crucial is the sophisticated production work of Military Genius with the use of effects like reverb, tremolo and distortion to create tension, a feeling of space and dynamics. On ‘Heavens Knows’ slow creeping underwater effects bubble just under and above the surface, on ‘On the Street in America’ echoey, industrial sounding drones fade in and out of the mix. It’s subtle layers like these that enhance the qualities of the already captivating compositions. And then there is Adams’s voice, which can sound old and creaky on one hand and warm and innocent on the other. It’s an understated but mesmerizing performance that carries the album, accompanied by the clever arrangements and production work. The songs never overstay their welcome, the strong atmosphere sucks you in immediately.

Tracklist

1.	El Loteria	2:20

2.	Boy Next Door	3:48

3.	Heaven Knows	4:53

4.	He Hit Me	2:47

5.	Cerberus	2:22

6.	Love Cry	3:51

7.	Salvation	3:30

8.	On the Street in America	5:39

9.	Bathtub	1:20

10.	Good Homicide	5:30

11.	John	3:04

Credits

released March 3, 2022

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