Debut release from Curses! on Paris' mighty Institubes label. Don't be quick to group this in with all the other french-electro that's been coming out these days, 'cause this one is truly exceptional. Curses! is the mysterious alter ego of Brooklyn bass monster Drop The Lime (who has been keeping ridiculously busy these days touring and remixing for everyone from Blaqstarr to Juiceboxxx and Dre Skull and even... himself!) and though this is his first release as Curses!, dude is obviously no noob to the game. He's been producing and rocking parties (including the infamous Trouble & Bass parties in BK) for years. I was lucky enough to witness his live show last year, and that shit was mind-blowing! But enough back story... as Curses!, DTL draws inspiration from the dance floor sounds of the past (think 90's house) and translates them for the dance floors of today by infusing it with his signature NYC bass style. "This Is The Way(1)" is a perfect example, with a screamin' diva vocal chopped and stuttered to perfection, hip-house sample drops ("Pump up the!") and jackin' bass and synths all over pumping drums. Straight slammin'. And if you REALLY want to blast the dance floor into smithereens, drop the DTL Remix(2) which takes all the elements of the original and punches them up to 11. Flipside features the strange mutant of a track "Hungry For Love(3)," which is unlike anything else out there right now. Part breaks, part dancefloor, part ambient, part prog rock, all masterful. Give it a listen and you'll see what I mean. Recommended.

reviewed by snackmaster