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Rating: The title of this album "Come Clean" almost seems like an oxymoron, as it sounds anything but clean in terms of sound.
It's 1997, after three EPs and two studio albums, Curve, having overcome a short period of almost forced rest, solo projects, and internal group issues, return to the scene, abandoning that dark-shoegaze genre and moving towards industrial, a mix of electronic and dance rhythms. Despite this trend reversal, I believe that this "Come Clean" is an album not to be underestimated. It might be that at this time I'm suffering from "chronic Curvitism", or maybe it's the heat or whatever you like, but this dirty sound, the use of samples, those whispers of Halliday halfway between singing and speaking so calm, out of tune, and surreal enough to give chills and immerse in a futuristic atmosphere, fuel day by day the desire to have this duo back on the scene.
The album is a complete mixture of distorted sounds, with a blend of much stronger and damn industrial songs ("Chinese Burn", "Dog Bone", "Cotton Candy"), others more introspective and dark, with that allure of electronics that makes them particularly enjoyable ("Coming Up Roses", "Something Familiar", "Beyond Reach", "Recovery"), and others simply crazy ("Come Clean", "Killer Baby"). Indeed, the influence and technological advent, the hand of Alan Moulder, the search for a new sound, the break with the past, the almost non-existent guitars that give way to keyboards and effects are very evident. I don't think, considering the subsequent works also geared towards experimentation in this genre, that the fans have greatly appreciated this change in style, yet despite this, few albums have fascinated me at the first listen like this one, leaving me stunned but at the same time satisfied and also melancholically dark.
Definitely to be rediscovered and reassessed
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Chinese Burn (04:50)
She burns friends like a piece of wood
And she's jealous of me because she never could
Hold herself up without a spine
And she'll look me up when she's doing fine
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favourite daughter
Spoilt and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies they're all the same
All the same
Crush her fame
Burn her name
She'll break a promise as a matter of course
Because she thinks it's fun to have no remorse
She gets what she wants and walks away
And she doesn't give a fuck what you might say
Because it cuts her up like Irish mortar
Mother's pride is what we taught her
Soiled and petty as we happily taunt her
Friend and enemy we're all to blame
{She'll burn us bad
She'll flaunt her fame
She'll make us remember, remember her name}x2
If she sits still like she knows she could
She could win this game and be the queen for good
Save herself up for the cream of the crop
Then she'll look us up when she's ready to stop
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favourite daughter
Spoilt and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies are all that came
To burn her name
Crush her fame
Burn her name
Crush her fame
Burn her name
Crush her fame
Burn her name
We're all to blame
05 Alligators Getting Up (04:37)
Grow out of your obsessions
You think you're bad but I'm badder than you
'Cuz mine has come through consideration,
while your reaction is nothing new
So go on genius be who you are
You're so flat & one dimensional
If you go my way you won't go wrong
you'll find out where you really belong
If you search it out it will make you strong
then you'll go on & on & on & on
You want what's mine but you don't deserve it
One tenth is all you can have
Why care, why share?
Stamp your feet 'cuz life's unfair
Why care, why share?
Stamp your feet 'cuz life's unfair
If you go my way you won't go wrong
you'll find out where you really belong
If you search it out it'll make you strong
then you'll go on & on & on & on
You have to watch for the smallest details
just to stop the alligator from getting up
The alligator from getting up
The alligator form getting up
The alligator from getting up
12 Come Clean (02:16)
When will you come clean
Clean and lean and mean
When will you come clean
Clean and lean and mean
When will you come clean
Clean and lean and mean
When will you come clean
Clean and lean and mean
Come so far
I can't go back
Come so far
I can't go back
Come so far
I can't go back
Come so far
When will you wake up
Up to my loving stuff
When will you wake up
Up to my loving cup
When will you wake up
When will you wake up
When will you wake up
When will you wake up
I've been so far
I can't go back
I've been so far
I can't go back
I've been so far
I can't go back
I've been so far
I can't go back
When will you come clean
When will you wake up
Up to my loving cup
Up to my loving stuff
Clean and lean and mean
Clean and lean and mean
I've been so far
I can't go back
I've been so far
I can't go back
I've been so far
I can't go back
I've been so far
13 Recovery (04:48)
The months go by
And I don't think of you
The signal is frail
An imprint of what you do
So I turn up the sound
And you are nowhere
I have learnt this
To my cost
But I maintain
In the slow lane
I maintain
In the slow lane
The scent goes by
Still I smell of you
You say I cry
At the merest thought of you
So you let me down
To laugh at nothing
I have learnt this
For myself
But I maintain
In the slow lane
I maintain
In the slow lane
So I turn up the sound
And you are nowhere
I have learnt this
To my cost
But I maintain
In the slow lane
I maintain
In the slow lane
Turn down the sound
You are nowhere
You let me down
To laugh at nothing
I have learnt this
To my cost
I have learnt this
For myself
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