Curve
Cuckoo

THE REVIEW

"Cuckoo" is the second studio album by the British duo consisting of vocalist Tony Halliday and guitarist/programmer Dan Garcia.

After the debut in '92 with "Doppelganger", the duo tries again this time with "Cuckoo", which at times seems to continue the path of the previous work, at times highlights a change of trend, not entirely sudden. A studio album characterized by that dirty sound, distorted, mixed with electronics that has so affirmed this band (now only a memory). Most will see some discrepancies in the Curve pieces, characterized by that "music - voice" contrast not always well blended, but which has become, after all, their trademark. "Cuckoo" is the result of all these typical ingredients that are very dear: not only is the sensual vocality of Halliday that gives us chills mixed with not exactly positive lyrics, whispers, and unusual anxieties the main focus, but also their sound that continues ranging from alternative to electronic, without any presumption.

The album opens with an energetic "Missing Link," which gives hope for some continuity with the origins. Halliday sings with such grit that she makes her performance fascinating and aggressive as she talks about the loss of heart, mind, and past. Trend reversal in "Crystal" and "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" where a darker soul emerges and a voice that at times is almost whispered and unable to keep pace with the noise of the samples that accompany it. The flaw or strength of Curve pieces is precisely the lack of a precise continuity between one track and another. Taken individually, they all represent more or less good productions and also demonstrate the growth of this group (destined to disband several times and reunite without finding a positive response from the public). However, put in lineup, these somewhat contorted sounds are too dispersed and give the listener the idea of getting lost in an echo of already heard sounds that make the album repetitive and lacking that input or desire to easily proceed with the listening.

Of course, it is appropriate to clarify that we are not talking about their frenemies Garbage (the comparison is almost mandatory given the debut of the latter in '95 with the eponymous album) who have instead surprised us, accustomed, and at the same time disappointed for the innovation and the ease of creating songs with dark tinges but far too simple and banal choruses (which have represented their success). Here we talk about something completely different: noises marry electronic sampling, Halliday gives her best to be in tune with the musicality; not positive lyrics, the gloomy and shivering atmosphere that surrounds the entire album (the only thing in concordance of this record). Continuing to listen, we find ourselves again in this greed and dispersion that shivers and transports us to a surreal and abstract place, from which there seems to be no escape: "Unreadable Communication" is proof of what has been said so far, because it shows precisely the more introverted and intriguing side of Curve.

The quality of Curve lies precisely in their musical refinement, in their intertwining of contorted noises, in their wise ability to transport you to another dimension, nothing short of surreal, that unfortunately and regretfully breaks off midway through the album and can only be heard again in the final track that bears the name of the album "Cuckoo": their best track with that intriguing whisper, at times sensual, at times hypnotic and conversely such light, almost nonexistent musicality that allows the track to be in agreement with the spirit of the album. For the rest, however, there is a not too well-executed attempt to continue with the past trying to bring some evolution; the atmosphere vanishes, the dark rhythm becomes almost nonexistent, veiled only and a few times by a slight dark/noir tinge that does not excite.

Considering the work in its entirety, "Cuckoo" definitely represents a turning point compared to the previous production, you can still perceive that "curve style", you immerse in a (quite successful) attempt to create a new experimental sound that will allow the duo to continue, not without problems, and which will then produce subsequent works. In summary, a good job that will certainly captivate genre enthusiasts, an album not to be underestimated and certainly capable of opening new musical horizons.