A hugely influential band in their own right, as far as introductions to Curve go, this 31 track package that is spread over two CDs couldn't be better.

CD1 features some of their coolest cuts from their career between 1990 and 2004, whilst the second CD concerns itself with rare and unreleased tracks, such as some of the band's interesting collaborations with the likes of Aphex Twin on 'Falling Free' and Ian Dury via 'What A Waste'.

Much of the material is coolly culled from their first three EPs and their debut Doppelganger LP, with the industrial glam-pop of 'Ten Little Girls' setting in motion a hugely stylized and commercially viable sound that has influenced a wide range of bands and artists from Garbage to Marilyn Manson.

You can certainly liken Curve's pulsating energy to that of Garbage's, with Curve vocalist Toni Halliday proving to be the perfect foil for the multi-instrumentalist Dean Garcia who is the genius behind Curve's hypnotic and terrifically entrancing vibes.

Having had five Top 40 hits and the pleasure of having toured with Ride, My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus And Mary Chain, Curve's drum and bass-bulging 'Chinese Burn' sounds to have provided direct inspiration for The Prodigy's 'Firestarter' anthem of intent, while Curve's cover of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' proves to be one of the most fascinating asides to the moody pop-rock of 'Missing' and the melodic guitar-magic of 'Horror Head’.

Still, 'Perish' is arguably the most outstanding anthem of all, in which Toni does her best Belinda Carlisle impersonation…  
(5/5)

Release date: 17 May 2004

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The Way Of