January 1, 2003

I've only recently come to realize that some music just works better live than on record: free jazz, for example, as well as Bulb Records-style party rock and the spastic hardcore-noise rock of many of my favorite local bands.

Then there is a band like the Curtains, who have a more reserved stage presence and deal in a subtler, more detailed musical language than many of their local out-rock peers. Relative to some of these wilder bands, their performances can feel like polite recitals, which isn't a criticism, just a stab at an excuse because I didn't get the Curtains prior to hearing this LP.

Fast Talks is the first album by the instrumental two-guitars-and-drums (and sometimes guitar-keyboard-drums) trio, and it's an all-around winner.

The obvious musical allusion is Captain Beefheart, specifically the delicate, guitar-based interludes on later albums such as Doc at the Radar Station. The Curtains are probably tired of that comparison, but in describing their combination of intricate, clean-toned electric guitar interplay and off-the-beat drumming – as well as the overall blend of angular dissonance and charming, even pretty melodies – it's at least helpful as a reference point.

Don't worry, though, because they take the sound in their own direction, occasionally hitting an honest-to-goodness rock backbeat ("Perfect Steps") but more often keeping the textures spacious and the rhythms implied instead of directly stated. Beautifully recorded by John Dieterich of Curtains associates Deerhoof, this is an LP-only release – on spiffy 180-gram vinyl, no less – and it's limited to 500 copies, so don't snooze on it. The Curtains play Fri/20, Oh So Little Café, S.F. (415) 554-0934. (Also Sat/21, Ramp, Berk. 510-658-7426.) (Will York)

Loquat
The Penny Drop E.P. (Loquat)

Pity the twee pop band in San Francisco. Where do sweet popsters turn to get a little appreciation amid the Strum und Drang of local noisemakers and the barbed antics of Bay Area no wavers?