Halliday and Garcia were introduced to each other by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. Dean Garcia had played bass guitar as part of Eurythmics' live band in 1983–84 and on two of their studio albums, Touch and Be Yourself Tonight. Toni Halliday was signed to Stewart's Anxious Records label as a solo artist. She also sang with The Uncles and Bonk in the early 1980s.
Toni Halliday and Dean Garcia briefly formed the unsuccessful group State of Play in the late 1980s before parting ways. She attempted a solo career, releasing the album Hearts & Handshakes in 1989. The album was produced by Toni Halliday and Alan Moulder, who later got married. Alan Moulder also produced music for artists like Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and My Bloody Valentine.
In 1991, Halliday reunited with Garcia to form Curve. Their alchemy the second time around created sonically charged music, setting heavy beats and Garcia's densely-layered guitar tracks and feedback against Halliday's airy vocalization of lyrics that frequently explore such topics as alienation, addiction and love on the wane. Curve released three acclaimed EPs throughout 1991 on Stewart's label Anxious Records: Blindfold EP, Frozen and Cherry. These EPs will be included on the compilation Pubic Fruit, issued a year later.
In 1992, Curve released their debut album Doppelgänger. The group also toured extensively during this period, with Halliday and Garcia being supported on stage by the additional guitarists Debbie Smith and Alex Mitchell, plus the drummer Steve Monti. Songs such as "Horror Head", "Coast Is Clear" and "Faît Accompli" brought them critical acclaim and built a solid fanbase for the group.
Their sophomore studio album, Cuckoo, was issued in 1993. The album was a musically more varied but significantly darker release than their debut. On their first two albums, Curve worked with producer Flood (U2, Smashing Pumpkins). Also in 1993, it saw the light of the day the live compilation Radio Sessions.
After nearly a decade and a half of partnership the band split in 1994. During their hiatus, Halliday formed the band Scylla. Their track "Helen's Face" was featured on the Showgirls soundtrack. Garcia began a solo project under the name Headcase.
Toni Halliday also collaborated with other artists, most notably with Leftfield on the track "Original", with Recoil on two songs, "Edge to Life" and "Bloodline" from Bloodline, with The Future Sound of London on the song "Cerebral", with Paul van Dyk on "Words (Curved Headcase Mix)" and with DJ? Acucrack on the song “So To Speak”.
In 1996, the single "Pink Girl With the Blues", marked Curve's official return, followed by the EP Chinese Burn. In 1997, the band released their fourth studio album Come Clean. Curve also contributed the track "Nowhere" to Greg Araki's movie of the same name. Halliday married producer Alan Moulder.
In 2001, the band released on the internet the compilation Open Day at the Hate Fest. This album contained music recorded by Curve since their reformation in 1996. In the same year, the band released the critically acclaimed album Gift. The single "Hell Above Water" has gained the highest public profile as a result of its use in trailers for the 2002 film Spider-Man and the 2008 film Iron Man.
Their final album was 2002's The New Adventures of Curve, released only over the internet. In 2004 The Way of Curve, a best-of compilation was released, featuring their most popular songs and singles, as well as rare B-sides and fan favorites. Halliday announced on their official web site in early 2005 that the group split again.
After the split, Toni Halliday started a solo project entitled Chatelaine and released the album Take a Line For a Walk in 2010.
Dean Garcia founded SPC ECO in 2007 with his daughter Rose Berlin on lead vocals, and guitarist Joey Levenson; and welcomed the addition of guitarist Perry Pelonero in 2011. Garcia is also currently a member of the bands The Black Holes (with Jo Neale; 2007-present), The Chronologic (2006-present), Inkraktare (with Mark Wallbridge aka Vasko The Pig; 2009-present), The Secret Meeting (with kaRIN and Statik of Collide; 2007-present), KGC (with Sascha Konietzko and Lucia Cifarelli of KMFDM; 2006-present) and Morpheme (with Perry Pelonero and Kim Welsh of Bliss.City.East, Skylight and Clenched Fist; 2010-present).
In 2011, SPC ECO released the Big Fat World EP; and the album You Tell Me which includes a track titled Let It Out -- an updated version of Curve's Something Familiar from the album Come Clean. Morpheme released their debut single INFECTION // SINGLE and the RED DOG EP; and Garcia released a solo album entitled How Do You Feel ?, with special guests Mark Wallbridge, Todd Astromass and Jeff Beck.
Official sites:
http://curve.co.uk
http://curve.bandcamp.com
http://on.fb.me/CurveOfficialManagedByDean
2. Starting in the early 2000's, Japanese curve was a two piece for much of their existence, only gaining a third member with their most recent album. They've also had quite a bit of exposure throughout the world, touring through Malysia/Singapore and appearing on a split in the USA.
Official Site
http://www.curve-official.com/
Coast Is Clear
Curve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hangs the whisper of the same man
You can't be my father
For the love we've shown
It's just a little to me
It's never enough to swallow those pills
Now I'm sick, and always will be
Take it, I don't want it
Just don't try to trick me to sleep
Don't turn out the lights
You can't be my father
For the love we've shown
It's just a little to me
It's never enough to swallow those pills
Now I'm sick, and I always will be
Dreams of meeting truth
Be my father
Dreams of meeting truth
For the
Dreams of meeting truth
Be my father
Dreams of meeting truth
Now I'm sick, always, always, always
Just when you thought it was all right
Just when you thought it was all right
Just when you thought it was all right
Just when you thought it was all right
Open your eyes now, girl
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
Coast is clear
The lyrics to Curve's song "Coast Is Clear" are dark and introspective, exploring themes of trauma and familial estrangement. The song starts with the singer looking at a whisper of the same man above their bed in their ugly room. The singer then declares that this man can't be their father despite the love they've shown because it's just not enough. The pills mentioned in the lyrics are likely a reference to self-medication - the singer is sick and always will be, but they refuse to take the substance given to them.
The second half of the song shifts to the singer's dreams. They dream of meeting the truth and having their father be a part of their life. However, the song ends with repeated choruses of "Coast is clear," perhaps indicating that the singer has accepted the past and is now ready to move on. The repetition of the phrase could also indicate a sense of uncertainty or a lack of closure.
Overall, the lyrics to "Coast Is Clear" deal with difficult subject matter and offer a glimpse into the complexities of personal trauma and familial relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Above my bed, in this ugly room
In this unattractive room where I sleep, there is something hanging above me that reminds me of a man.
Hangs the whisper of the same man
The object hanging above my bed is a whisper that seems to come from the man in my memory.
You can't be my father
I do not believe that you are my father despite any resemblance or connection we may have.
For the love we've shown
The love we have expressed towards each other is not enough to prove any familial relationship.
It's just a little to me
The love we have shown each other is insignificant and does not hold much weight in my mind.
It's never enough to swallow those pills
No amount of love or affection could cure the sickness I feel within myself.
Now I'm sick, and always will be
I am currently ill and will continue to be so in the future, despite our relationship.
Take it, I don't want it
You can have whatever you desire, as it holds no value to me.
You can have what you like
You are free to take whatever you want from me, as I have little attachment to any of it.
Just don't try to trick me to sleep
Do not attempt to deceive me into a peaceful state, as I am aware of your intentions.
Don't turn out the lights
I want to stay awake and watch for any potential danger or trickery.
Dreams of meeting truth, be my father
I yearn for a sense of truth and reality that can only be obtained through a paternal figure.
Now I'm sick, always, always, always
My sickness will continue indefinitely and will always be present within me.
Just when you thought it was all right
Despite any recent positive developments, the situation has taken a turn for the worse.
Open your eyes now, girl
A warning to someone, likely a female, to be aware of their surroundings and stay alert.
Coast is clear
The path is clear and free of obstacles or any potential danger.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DEAN GARCIA, TONY HALLIDAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SuperDoggy99
The first half of the 90s was a great time for music. So much innovation. From Grunge to Shoegaze, New Punk to Progressive (later "Alternative"), with college radio gaining major acceptance--there was so much creativity going on in these little cultural pockets all over the world.
Then, Kurt Cobain died, "alternative" became commercialized, and with the threat of Napster, the music industry began to transform its media choke hold and presentation, beginning with a renewed television presence and the creation of "assembled" boy/girl bands in the early 2000s. This was immediately followed by the creation of shows like America's Got Talent, Rock Star: INXS, etc.
The age of "music by committee" was born, only to be, 10 years later, completely augmented, amplified, and outdone by Social Media and the new crop of "talent shows". And, of course, lets not forget the widespread use of Pro Tools, Autotune, etc. Now, music standards are set by an insipid, overproduced "global sound", this "samey" pop sound that the music industry has been pushing for the past 20 years.
It's not a surprise that everything sounds derivative these days. There's no innovation any more, except on the technological front. Musicianship isn't important. What's important now is "presence"--the ability to call someone an "artist", even when they hardly deserve the title. There are fewer and fewer cultural pockets in the world, turning out unique music, developing unique voices. And those that do remain are immediately pilfered the second they're discovered by current Pop Royalty. (eg., Katy Perry ripped off Dagny, Robin Thicke ripped off Marvin Gaye, etc.)
Without a doubt, Curve was ahead of their time.
@TheVascoPaiva
This song is beautiful! God dammit, I must admit, this band doesn't suck as much as many people say they do, I actually think they're quite good. Hell, I've played their debut to death.
@vernonleon4873
A_lullaby_for_Sophie why do people say they suck?
@tresinforest2904
Why do they suck I've rocked these guys for years
@Mateo-ko9kx
Too much listening to people makes me sick.
@SuperDoggy99
The first half of the 90s was a great time for music. So much innovation. From Grunge to Shoegaze, New Punk to Progressive (later "Alternative"), with college radio gaining major acceptance--there was so much creativity going on in these little cultural pockets all over the world.
Then, Kurt Cobain died, "alternative" became commercialized, and with the threat of Napster, the music industry began to transform its media choke hold and presentation, beginning with a renewed television presence and the creation of "assembled" boy/girl bands in the early 2000s. This was immediately followed by the creation of shows like America's Got Talent, Rock Star: INXS, etc.
The age of "music by committee" was born, only to be, 10 years later, completely augmented, amplified, and outdone by Social Media and the new crop of "talent shows". And, of course, lets not forget the widespread use of Pro Tools, Autotune, etc. Now, music standards are set by an insipid, overproduced "global sound", this "samey" pop sound that the music industry has been pushing for the past 20 years.
It's not a surprise that everything sounds derivative these days. There's no innovation any more, except on the technological front. Musicianship isn't important. What's important now is "presence"--the ability to call someone an "artist", even when they hardly deserve the title. There are fewer and fewer cultural pockets in the world, turning out unique music, developing unique voices. And those that do remain are immediately pilfered the second they're discovered by current Pop Royalty. (eg., Katy Perry ripped off Dagny, Robin Thicke ripped off Marvin Gaye, etc.)
Without a doubt, Curve was ahead of their time.
@Riotboy1
I remember being so young listening to this CD in my room. Good times.
@tresinforest2904
Very good times indeed
@jenvermaas549
Why isn’t this album available on Apple Music? Drives me crazy having it just be on YouTube. I want my Curve back!
@fionamarquet7641
Gorgeous, and so many good memories from parties with this on in NZ
@ANGELSVEN
Fantastic song! Blasting this in 2020!