Chiming guitars weave around your thoughts as a river of throbbing bass takes you to the emotional dark spaces of Curl's October 2017 Album release "Shapeshifters".
Intrigued by the contrast of Hayley Alker's powerful but curiously passive vocal delivery, you feel her opening up but always keeping something back, baring her soul while never quite losing control through harmonious layers of melody.
The mood of this transcontinental four-piece's latest outing (French guitars and British vocals and drums from Jon's ex-Cranes and Vex) is more darkly organic than their previous Electronica meets New Wave releases. The bittersweet and unsettling edge to Alker's singing sits perfectly atop the rich warmth of the songs as they rise and fall in majestic intensity. The Gravity of the Guitars from Frank (ex-Corpus Delicti) and Wil propel you in to a sonic sculpture - noise, ambience, a brave new world.
You will feel the hurt on this album but that is only half the story. There is a gentle euphoria too, but somehow all emotions are referenced in the past.
There are no clear conclusions here, no resolution to the emotional shape shifting, no real end to the journey. But you will want these waves to flow through you, envelop you, carry you drifting weightlessly away.
CURL will be performing the new album in France and UK spring 2018