Customer Reviews

Gift

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

1992 brought us groundbreaking albums by Tori Amos (Little Earthquakes), and Nine Inch Nails (Broken EP). I use those two examples, because if you combine them, you've got a little band called Curve, whose debut album 'Doppleganger' was also released that year. Although that comparison doesn't do them justice, at the time of it's release, 'Doppleganger' sounded like nothing else. In this day and age of Garbage and Skindive, their sound is familiar. Industrial beats, synth- lines and lot's of feedback. Then there's the vocals of singer Toni Halliday. Detatched and beautiful, yet somehow inviting, she sang like she just couldn't care less. 1993 brough their third release, 'Cukoo'. Their most cohesive and well-rounded effort, it showed a slightly softer side by bringing the vocals front and center instead of burying them in fuzz. Though they re-formed in 1997 and released the flawed-but-good 'Come Clean', 'Gift' is the true sequel to 'Cukoo'. The first three tracks, 'Hell Above Water', 'Gift', and 'Want More Need Less' sound like business as usual. Then out of nowhere comes 'Parish'. A beat heavy romp that is seductive and beautiful with Halliday's vocals more impassioned than they have ever been. The beats throughout the album are remarkable where in the past, they could be obvious and repetitive. The winning streak continues throughout the rest of the ten tracks. This is perhaps Curve's best album to date. It's no longer innovative, not groundbreaking. It's a band doing what they do best.
RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: Garbage, Skindive, Solar Twins, Tori Amos, Cocteau Twins, Nine Inch Nails.

I swear, if I hear one more reviewer mention Garbage in a Curve album review, I just might be sick. The groups exist on two completely different levels of music, both in style and in maturity. Let's just leave it at that, shall we? If you are going to compare and contrast, I would really like to hear someone talk about other Curve-inspired groups (like Lulabox or Collide, for example). Oh well. As for Gift, the only thing I can honestly say is "Thank you." I was pleased as punch upon picking up the Internet-only comp. Open Day at the Hatefest, and even more thrilled when Gift arrived in my mailbox. It truly sounds like the group is again enjoying the art of making music. They've managed to overcome several obstacles (personal, label and management issues), and have emerged with an album to be proud of. Gift doesn't sound like Curve redone; it sounds like Curve REBORN. Sure, Toni and Dean have made significant changes to their trademark sound...but in a way that gives us a glimpse of the direction Curve is heading in, while at the same time reminding us of what the band once was, and at its core will always be. On Curve's past albums, I had always heard a definite sense of melody underneath all that white noise, guitar dissonance, and drum aggression; Curve manages to subtly bring that underlying melody to the surface of the songs Gift contains...and the resulting sound is both more mature and more dynamic. I believe that this may actually be the greatest success of this album.
It is unfortunate that Curve will not be touring the US to support this album; I saw them on the Come Clean tour, and to this day have yet to see another group that displays the kind of musical talent and integrity that Curve presents during its live shows. So many groups could and SHOULD learn a thing or two from Curve...not just how to reinvent yourself, but how to do so without destroying what you have already created.
Way to go, guys.

...At least in the meantime fans were treated to an internet-only release compilation called "Open Day at the Hatefest" which could have easily been called "Pretty Little Pagan" due to its darker atmospheres in several of the tracks. "Gift" showcases nearly every style Curve has used over the years, but with a warmer, more heartfelt emotional theme and what some might call a lighter sound (I know better). Especially interesting is their use of unconventional song structure and pacing to keep the intra-track development from becoming predictable. This is taken to the extreme with the last track, "Bleeding Heart", which seems a little too mild in its neurosis for the subject matter and capitalizes on this fact in the unexpected finale. I'd already heard "Hell Above the Water", "Perish", and "Chainmail" from their website, so I can't say I fixated on those tracks upon first listen of this disk. They're great, but very familiar to me by now. It's nice to finally have them in Red Book CD rather than measly MP3, though. The songs that really caught my attention were "Want More Need Less", "Hung Up", and "My Tiled White Floor", among others. You can hear a significant connection between this album and "Come Clean", but it melds much more of Curve's previous sound than that one did. Then of course there's the near historic event of Kevin Shields coming out of his cave from working on My Bloody Valentine's newest (mythical?) album (as he's been doing for years) to contribute some layered guitar work. Alan Moulders good friend Flood (the experimental genius) once again lent his talents on a few of the tracks. Then to take things up yet another notch, "Gift" was perfectly mixed by Ben Grosse (Filter, Republica, The X-Files) and exquisitely mastered by Kevin Metcalfe (Tinstar, Queen, Orbital). The end result is the softest, fluffiest (if you can really say that about a Curve album), warmest, most un-bright, un-sibilant and sonically consistent album they've released...even more so than "Open Day at the Hatefest", which also had some excessive high frequency spikes in its two most recent tracks (sorry Master Alan). Soundwise, it reminds me of a fine TELARC cd. And of course, after all these years Toni still has a breathtaking voice that is now being recorded with more expertise and less processing than ever before. 'Tis a good day for Curve fans everywhere! It's a mystery why major record and electronic stores have "Gift" displays listed under the sign "Best New Band". Hello?! Six major releases later and people still have never heard of this group. Go figure.

Curve does it again with exceptional production and Toni Halldiay's voice is back and taking names...This album was not even destined to see the light of day when Curve's label shelved the lp almost a year ago and now its here and Gift leaves you thinking what the hell was Universal thinking? I've been a Curve fan in worshipping for the last 6 years and I can tell you- you get the best of Curve here-the brilliant Curve brand of sound dynamics that send showers of iridescent light in dark,harrowing tunnels. Fans of shoegazing/industrial/good electronica/and superb goth will adore this Gift. From the industrial bruiser Hell Above Water to dangerously sensual sounding electro-lullabies like Hung Up and Bleeding Heart this album [really] delivers. Do all your senses a serious favor and treat yourself NOW!
P.S. My Bloody Valentine's mastermind-Kevin Shields does some brilliant guitar work on Perish and Want More Need Less, 2 more times Curve outdo themselves.

I must admit to being a latecomer to the charms of CURVE - when I first heard "Chinese Burn" from their last album, I thought it was the new GARBAGE (albeit a harder, more techno version of that band's sound). After that, I've been a fan ever since, fortunately finding all their earlier stuff through friends and used CD stores. This new album was originally shelved last year but is now a U.S. release, and is excellent. At times Curve have paid more attention to sound than structure and melody, but not so on this, possibly their most satisfying album. Dark, undulating grooves under a wash of distorted guitars and keyboard textures, with the always-superb vocals of Toni Halliday. Imagine a deeper and darker version of GARBAGE, and you'll have CURVE. And be sure to check out all the other recent stuff they've released for free on their website, 80% of it as good as this material! I already have another full CD's worth of new CURVE to complement this new album. A welcome return!

the bad news first. GIFT does not raise the bar at all. there is nothing new or unique to this album but beyond that CURVE fans should be happy. toni halliday has the voice of an angel. sweet and seductive, like a lover who kisses you with so much passion that you barely notice her driving a knife in your back.
the music is centered around ear candy-esque melody that is , at times, ragged around the edges. i have to comment to MoonGoddess' review. there is no way in hell garbage is better than curve. curve, not only came first but they set the standered for this style of music. they raised the bar and while you can compare stylistically speaking, it is my firm opinion that while garbage is indeed awesome. they pale in comparison. shirly manson is beautiful but garbage do not know how to use that beautiful voice as well as curve work the music and voice together. just my opinion, neither right nor wrong.
this is a great cd both for the fan and the necomer to curve. sweet and sensual, haunting and brilliant.

"The highlight of Curve's gothic, shoegazing rock has always been Toni Halliday"- As the editorial review above notes, this is a pretty accurate summation of yet another remarkable album by musics most -and wrongfully- neglected band. Of course, gentle listener, what is a "gothic shoegazing rock"- well, that really is the secret of Curve. Seemingly defying the need to fit into a pigeon hole, Curve could just as easily be described as Electronica (for electric beats and sounds), rock ( for guitar based wall of sound), goth ( for Toni's sultry and siren like voice) or shoegazer ( for the combination of rock and goth). Who knows? A band with this sheer level of talent defines all descripition.

Comparisons with Garbage are inevitable. Garbage, despite their sucess simply do not have the depth and passion of Curve. Toni Halliday's glorious voice sours through this album, and is exquisite as any female in music today. Simply put, Shirley Manson cannot sing as well as Toni, and Curve know how to mix and use that voice.

This is a standout album. The first track, track number 8 (My tiled white floor) and 10 ( my bleeding heart) are wonderful songs, with passion in buckets.

Most highly recommended.

This was a surprise. As I thought they had disappeared, Curve produced an album that is incredibly fresh and original. The actually took their original concept of techno-accentuated gothic hard rock...and improved on it. Unbelievable.

I don't know why people compare Curve with Garbage. I like both bands, and they both make very different music. Garbage is more happy music compared to Curve. I like the dark complexity of Curve music. I have all their albums and this is surely not one to miss.

After Come Clean I was really wondering what the next Curve album would sound like. For me, Come Clean had a mix of songs ranging from genius to headache-enducing. (Only the mediocre are always at their best, eh?) This album is incredibly strong- I liked it on the first listen and I'm sure I'll be singing along with Toni in no time- the songs are really catchy. Gift reminds me of a cross between Pubic Fruit (my favorite Curve album) and Cuckoo (my second favorite Curve album) with a little techo dabbed on here and there. It's nice to see Dean and Toni's talent persist and grow. I hope there will be more (and regular) Curve releases in the future...I don't think I could ever get enough Curve.