The Natural Curve links with Liberty Taylor

The Natural Curve is the latest expression of a philosophy that UK producer Paul Cullen has pursued for more than three decades: electronic music should never lose its humanity. A veteran of the nu-jazz movement, Paul has spent his career dissolving the lines between styles, combining the energy of live performance with the possibilities of electronic production. Over the years, he’s delivered a catalogue that feels at once adventurous and engaging, built on the conviction that groove and emotion belong at the centre of every track.

Paul first came to prominence as a co-founder of Taxi, the acclaimed nu-jazz outfit he formed with vocalist Simon Lovejoy, whose own output included close work on Björk’s landmark debut album. Signed to Frankfurt’s INFRaCom! Records, Taxi enjoyed significant success, releasing the celebrated albums Blue Zero One and The Accessory, selling more than 25,000 records and securing high-profile licensing placements with major brands. Plans for tours across Japan and Europe promised an even brighter future, but an unexpected fear of flying brought those ambitions to a halt. In the aftermath, the group disbanded, leaving Paul at a crossroads.

He transformed that setback into an opportunity for reinvention; drawing equally from the trip hop atmospheres of the 90s and his experience at the forefront of nu-jazz, he created The Natural Curve, a project free to move between house, drum and bass, funk, downbeat and electronica. His collaborative spirit has brought him together with an impressive range of musicians, including bassist Scott Firth, jazz vocalist Polly Gibbons and Marlon Knauer, for whom he wrote during a period when the project was published by Berlin Universal.

The music has also found passionate advocates across radio and club culture while support has come from figures such as broadcaster Gilles Peterson, DJ Norman Jay MBE, presenter Craig Charles and memorably, Nile Rodgers, whose response to the single “I Die” was a succinct but powerful endorsement. Now The Natural Curve opens up a new chapter with “Silly Girl”, a single that signals a confident move towards a synth pop sphere.

The track sees The Natural Curve collaborate with 20-year-old vocalist Liberty Taylor, whose voice and energy brings a new dimension to Paul’s ever-developing sound. Their collaboration began in Norwich through a mutual friend, shortly after Liberty had appeared as Morticia in a production of The Addams Family musical. Recognising something special in her voice, Paul invited her to North Norfolk, where the pair recorded together. Though the song’s retro synth pop shimmer marks one of the project’s boldest stylistic shifts, the essence of The Natural Curve remains intact.

Brought in by the stutter of buzzy synth tones and the steady snap of drums, the track flows with a laid back groove as Liberty’s expressive voice enters to spin instantly catchy melodies above. Gently building up the arrangement with shuffling percussive shots and smooth instrumental texture, the track glides with spacey timbres and slick rhythmic energy as soulful vocal leads ring out above. Developing with airy piano notes and woozy synth elements, the finale swells with sweeping tones and stacked vocal layers to deliver a memorable close to the song.

It’s a superb jam that’s danceable, infectious and highly original all at once, offering a spectacular display of the two artist’s talent and readily apparent musical chemistry. With “Silly Girl”, The Natural Curve once again shows that reinvention need not come at the expense of identity, with Pauls’ latest work revealing how decades of experience can open doors to unexpected new directions and serve up stellar musical moments.

Listen to Silly Girl below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---