The Line Is a Curve

The Line Is a Curve
Studio album by
Kae Tempest
Released8 April 2022 (2022-04-08)
Genres
Length44:54
Label
Producers
Kae Tempest chronology
The Book of Traps and Lessons
(2019)		 The Line Is a Curve
(2022)		 Self Titled
(2025)
Singles from The Line Is a Curve
  1. "More Pressure"
    Released: 10 January 2022
  2. "Salt Coast"
    Released: 4 February 2022
  3. "No Prizes"
    Released: 7 March 2022
  4. "I Saw Light"
    Released: 30 March 2022

The Line Is a Curve is the fourth studio album by English poet and spoken word artist Kae Tempest. It was released on 8 April 2022, through Fiction Records. The album features collaborations with Kevin Abstract of Brockhampton, Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C., and Lianne La Havas, among others.

Critical reception

The Line Is a Curve ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10
Metacritic84/100
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star
Clash7/10
DIYStarStarStarStar
The GuardianStarStarStarStar
Pitchfork7/10
musicOMHStarStarStarStar
NMEStarStarStarStar

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, The Line Is a Curve received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 12 critic scores.

Track listing

The Line Is a Curve track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Priority Boredom"2:44
2."I Saw Light" (featuring Grian Chatten)3:02
3."Nothing to Prove"3:26
4."No Prizes" (featuring Lianne La Havas)4:16
5."Salt Coast"5:52
6."Don't You Ever"3:03
7."These Are the Days"4:01
8."Smoking" (featuring Confucius MC)4:18
9."Water in the Rain" (featuring Assia Ghendir)3:52
10."Move"2:23
11."More Pressure" (featuring Kevin Abstract)3:13
12."Grace"4:32
Total length:44:54

Charts

Chart performance for The Line Is a Curve
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)16
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)33
UK Albums (Official Charts)8
UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)1

References

  1. ↑ "The Line Is a Curve by Kae Tempest Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 "The Line Is a Curve by Kae Tempest Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "The Line Is a Curve - Kae Tempest | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Neale, Matthew (4 April 2022). "Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve". Clash. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Harris, Cameron Sinclair (4 July 2025). "Kae Tempest - The Line Is A Curve". DIY. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  6. ↑ Morris, Kadish (10 April 2022). "Kae Tempest: This Line Is a Curve review – sensitive and punchy". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Madden, Emma (13 April 2022). "The Line Is a Curve – Kae Tempest". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Hogwood, Ben (8 April 2025). "Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve". musicOMH. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Clarke, Patrick (6 April 2022). "Kae Tempest – 'The Line Is A Curve' review: poet surpasses their own sky-high standards". NME. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  11. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 15/4/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  12. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 15/4/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  14. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart on 15/4/2022 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.