1. Curve was an alternative rock/electronic duo formed in 1990 in England, … Read Full Bio ↴1. Curve was an alternative rock/electronic duo formed in 1990 in England, United Kingdom. The band members were Toni Halliday (vocals, occasionally guitar) and Dean Garcia (bass, guitar, programming). Halliday wrote also the lyrics of their songs and they both contributed to songwriting. Their sound is a blend of alternative rock, shoegaze and electronic music.

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/

Hell Above Water
Curve Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm never relaxed
Even when I say I am
I'm always on the alert
Looking for the problem
This isn't my style
I flirt with guys
But they don't get me
I think I'm ready to kill

The next person who doesn't fit

I am all of these things
I am this and more

It's hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water

I'm the one on command
Look at the state I'm in
I really fear for my friends
And all the things they have seen
I've got no reason to say a thing
Got no reason to say a thing
'cause you don't scare me at all

no no no no no no
No no no no no no

It's hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water

I am all of these things
I am this and more
You don't scare me at all
You don't scare me at all

no no no no no no
No no no no no no

It's hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water

It's hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water
Hell above the water

It's hell above the water
Hell above the water

Hell above the water
Hell above the water

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Curve's song "Hell Above Water" present a complex emotional landscape of a person who is always on edge, looking for problems, and flirting with danger. The first verse describes how the singer is never relaxed, even when she says she is, and is always on alert, looking for the next challenge. She also mentions how she flirts with guys but they don't get her, and how she is ready to kill anyone who doesn't fit. In the chorus, the phrase "hell above the water" serves as a metaphor for the challenges in life that the singer faces.

The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's relationships with her friends, whom she fears for and who have seen things she has not. However, the singer has no reason to speak out, as she is not afraid of anyone. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the difficulties and obstacles that the singer faces. The song closes with a repetition of the phrase "You don't scare me at all," indicating that the singer has some degree of control over the challenges she faces.

Overall, the lyrics of "Hell Above Water" depict the internal conflict and emotional turmoil experienced by a person who is in a constant state of alertness, flirting with danger, and facing various challenges in life.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm never relaxed
I'm constantly on edge

Even when I say I am
Even if I try to convince myself and others that I am relaxed

I'm always on the alert
I'm always ready for something to go wrong

Looking for the problem
My focus is always on finding something that needs fixing

This isn't my style
Being on edge isn't who I want to be

I flirt with guys
I try to distract myself with meaningless relationships

But they don't get me
No one really understands me

I think I'm ready to kill
I'm so frustrated that I feel like I could hurt someone

The next person who doesn't fit
Anyone who doesn't meet my expectations

It's hell above the water
Life is a constant struggle

I'm the one on command
I feel responsible for everything