Nick Curly At Juno Download

Review: Rocking up once more to his regular spot chez Cecille, Nick Curly is plying his trade in stripped-down, functional rhythms with typical care and precision on "A Certain Someone". The beat takes the lead here, with only some quirky synth noodles darting around in the background. The breakdowns are heralded by a stiff vocal, which makes for quite a strange juxtaposition, but the groove prevails. "Outside In" is more linear still, yet with playful drums creating a more instinctive kind of funk for a very workable DJ tool that'll save you any unwelcome surprises in the mix.

Review: After putting out so much music in recent years, it's hard to believe Mannheim native Nick Curly is only now releasing his debut album. Between The Lines, released on the excellent Cecille imprint he co-runs with Marc Scholl, is a 13-track exploration of the sounds and atmospheres he has become synonymous with in recent times. A neat mix of short and extended tracks, the album deserves to be listened to in its entirety; yes, there's some great club tackle in here, but cuts like "Hairline" and "Underground" make for delicious headphone listening too. Recommended.