Curses dark, romantic take on electronic music is often linked to EBM, new beat, synth-pop, and the offshoots in between but, as the artist states, its feelings, not genres, that motivate his music. Especially the underground and its niche sounds, brimming with collective energy, drive and passion, make for a major impetus. Its no coincidence that hes drawn to the era when man turned to the machine, as a collaborative force, and a new kind of liveliness, timelessness, emerged. In Curses practice, this synergy translates into an enticing mix of synthesisers and voices, electronic drums and guitars. Nostalgia operates as an influence rather than a motive, though: despite its affinities with the past, his music is stridently contemporary and idiosyncratic. On the Perfect High EP, this approach is rendered in a resolutely dancefloor-oriented selection. Its rich in detail and constantly evolving; each time a new element appears, its treated with such delight and care that you could imagine the track to flit off and turn it into the main theme. This doesnt happen, however, as the sense of cohesion and momentum is paramount: there's a relentless forward drive that keeps engagement tight from start to finish. The detuned, chorus-heavy leads of title track Perfect High and the clockwork-tinged percussion of Weapon Of Time jell with lustrous hooks. The ominous choirs on Dare To Dream and the proto rolling-and-scratching squelches of Killer Instinct similarly fall into place. Bravado never stands in the way of flow. Everything is kept in check by gated R-50 rhythms, and in the vocal department, Curses finds the sweet spot between his own voice and a slew of off-kilter samples. On closer Blasted NYC royalty Andi joins for a slab of synth-driven groove. Its shiny and sensuous, like patent leather - a perfect distillation of club music channeled through pop aesthetics, and thus a right coda for ALT028

Curses dark, romantic take on electronic music is often linked to EBM, new beat, synth-pop, and the offshoots in between but, as the artist states, its feelings, not genres, that motivate his music. Especially the underground and its niche sounds, brimming with collective energy, drive and passion, make for a major impetus. Its no coincidence that hes drawn to the era when man turned to the machine, as a collaborative force, and a new kind of liveliness, timelessness, emerged. In Curses practice, this synergy translates into an enticing mix of synthesisers and voices, electronic drums and guitars. Nostalgia operates as an influence rather than a motive, though: despite its affinities with the past, his music is stridently contemporary and idiosyncratic. On the Perfect High EP, this approach is rendered in a resolutely dancefloor-oriented selection. Its rich in detail and constantly evolving; each time a new element appears, its treated with such delight and care that you could imagine the track to flit off and turn it into the main theme. This doesnt happen, however, as the sense of cohesion and momentum is paramount: there's a relentless forward drive that keeps engagement tight from start to finish. The detuned, chorus-heavy leads of title track Perfect High and the clockwork-tinged percussion of Weapon Of Time jell with lustrous hooks. The ominous choirs on Dare To Dream and the proto rolling-and-scratching squelches of Killer Instinct similarly fall into place. Bravado never stands in the way of flow. Everything is kept in check by gated R-50 rhythms, and in the vocal department, Curses finds the sweet spot between his own voice and a slew of off-kilter samples. On closer Blasted NYC royalty Andi joins for a slab of synth-driven groove. Its shiny and sensuous, like patent leather - a perfect distillation of club music channeled through pop aesthetics, and thus a right coda for ALT028