CURVE BALLS (3)

The first sighting of Curve in 1992 came on 24 February with the new single, Faît Accompli.

Unlike the four earlier releases, this wasn’t an EP, containing just the three tracks on 12″ vinyl, and likewise the CD version.  There was no 7″ issued, but there was a second 12″ which came with an extended version of Faît Accompli, backed with two tracks recorded live at gigs in Manchester and London the previous year.

Here’s the review, lifted from Melody Maker:-

I HATE to be so predictable, but…

One of the more immediate tracks from the forthcoming “Doppelgänger” LP, “Faît Accompli” forsakes Curve’s usual sweet violence for a slinky radiance which sits well on them. It’s relaxed, playful almost – you can fair see the glint in Toni’s eye as she breathes, “I’ve come to crush your bones, I’ve come to make you feel good, I’ve come to mess with your head…” Oh well, if you must.

The business is developing a penchant for releasing singles in two completely different formats, and we’re likely in coming months to see some bogus examples of this. In the case of “Faît Accompli”, however, the approach is justified. The standard 12-inch version includes two new tunes on the B-side, “Arms Out” and “Sigh”, and this last is to Curve what “Justify My Love” was to Madonna: minimalistic, angular and something of a departure. Then there’s a second 12-inch, featuring a fractured, extended “dance mix” (interesting, though not necessarily essential) with live renditions of “Coast Is Clear” and “Die Like A Dog” on the flip (utterly, undeniably crucial).

“Faît Accompli” represents the first tangible sign of Curve being prepared to open out, live up to their name and get a bit elliptical. We still have much to look forward to from them, I suspect.

It was made single of the week, and while I don’t what else was reviewed that week, I’m happy enough to give this review three cheers, as Faît Accompli has long been my favourite track of theirs.

mp3: Curve – Faît Accompli
mp3: Curve – Arms Out
mp3: Curve – Sigh

This one went all the way to #22 in the charts, and proved to be the biggest hit that Curve would enjoy.  It also paved the way for debut album, Doppelgänger, to enter the charts at #11 just three weeks later.

While I don’t have a copy of the other 12″ single, I have picked up the extended version of Faît Accompli thanks to its inclusion on a later compilation CD.

mp3 : Curve – Faît Accompli (extended version)

Here’s the promo video:-

JC