With its growling synths, strong melodic figures, and resilient mood,
The Line Is a Curve
is yet another highlight for
Kae Tempest
. The London rapper's first two LPs garnered richly deserved acclaim and a pair of Mercury Prize nominations, while their third, 2019's atmospheric
The Book of Traps and Lessons
, saw them move toward a less rhythmic style that played more like one of their spoken word performances. Their first release since coming out as non-binary,
is less global than those earlier records and less brittle than its predecessor, instead dialing in on
Tempest
's inner conversations. Their reputation as a creative polymath --
is also a successful poet, playwright, and novelist -- has always been at the nexus of their public narrative, sometimes distracting from the fact that, when in top form, they can deliver tight rhymes with a captivating fervor and grit. This record, a marvel of openness and resolve, marks the return of
the emcee and no song better represents their transformation than the dazzling "More Pressure." Against a shimmering synth backdrop and fluid beat
slings sharp verses that detail the self's quest for release and wholeness. With its punchy assist from American rapper
Kevin Abstract
(
Brockhampton
), it's also one of many collaborations from an artist who traditionally doesn't feature other vocalists. Elsewhere, Ireland's
Grian Chatten
Fontaines D.C.
) offers his voice to the electro-minimalist "I Saw Light" and Britain's
Lianne La Havas
provides the melodic hook on the poignant "No Prizes."
's longtime foil, producer
Dan Carey
, is also back, though he too is working on a different level. While there is some of the organic instrumentation (mainly pianos and guitars) from their previous release together,
is better defined by its electronic elements like the buzzing, dark synths of opener "Priority Boredom" and the majestic "Salt Coast," a quintessentially
-ian paean to the virtues and flaws of their beloved British isle. More aesthetically modern and approachable than some of their other records, though no less potent, this is
at their best. ~ Timothy Monger