The sonic dynamic duo known as Curve return with their third full length release in the space of just over a year. Released in early 2001, Open Day at The Hate Fest was an Internet only CD of new songs mixed with soundtrack cuts and rarities from the vaults of Dean Garcia and Toni Halliday. Later in 2001, they gave us Gift, an album recorded in 2000, mired in record company shuffles, it was a present we almost never got to unwrap. An album of pure genius from beginning to end, Gift was ten tracks around four minutes and thirty seconds each of industrial fused with power pop the likes of which have not been heard since the hit making days of Depeche Mode.

The new album, aptly titled The New Adventures of Curve, has songs a bit longer, a bit less accessible, but just as interesting. All of the songs breathe and are allowed to play themselves out, usually to stunning conclusions. Like Open Day... this is an Internet only release (they may seek major label release down the road) of nine all new recordings. The CD starts off in high gear with "Answers," a rip-roaring contradiction of old school sounds and pounding new techno beats. "No one asks the questions, cos no one has the answers" is intoned over and over while the music gains intensity. "Till the Cows Come Home" bounces along until you hit the chorus and grinding guitars enter where vocalist Toni Halliday sings about the let down of love. "Cold Comfort" is the first straight ahead dance track Curve have ever done, sounding more like latter day Madonna than the dark music masters they are. "Star" returns to more familiar ground, where Dean Garcia's liquid bass playing hovers over the beat. Both "Nice and Easy" and "Joy" tear up the speakers with Velvet Underground harshness blended with The Strokes sheen. "Joy" also marks the first time Halliday has passed the mic to partner Garcia, and it turns out he can sing almost as well as he can write and play.

Where Gift was Curves' "Violator," The New Adventures of... could easily be considered the bands' "Music for The Masses."

review by Brian Sherman (dated June 2002)

http://www.curve.co.uk for ordering details.