Fast Talks is the Curtains' debut full-length, but also a farewell to their early lineup of guitarists Chris Cohen and Trevor Shimizu and drummer Jamie Peterson. (Leader Cohen was the only one to stay on with the group through their next album.) The trio inescapably brings to mind Captain Beefheart's Magic Band on much of this LP, specifically the delicate, guitar-based interludes on later Beefheart albums such as Doc at the Radar Station. The Curtains may be 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. The Television of Marquee Moon (the album and the song) could be another point of comparison. In any case, the Curtains do what they do really, really well, and they do take the sound in their own direction, occasionally hitting an honest-to-goodness rock backbeat (see Perfect Steps), but more often keeping the textures spacious and the rhythms implied instead of directly stated. Beautifully recorded by John Dieterich of Curtains friends and associates Deerhoof, this album was originally an LP-only release (on 180-gram vinyl) and limited to 500 copies. However, judging strictly by the quality of this music, it warrants a much bigger audience than that. ~ William York, Rovi

1		Dim Weeks
2		22nds
3		Stringmasters
4		Brain Photography
5		Athletes in the Stars
6		Golden Gentlemen
7		Slippers
8		The Divers
9		Go to the Window
10		Freeway Spots
11		Perfect Steps
12		Old March
13		Heart Projects
14		Call to the Pilots
15		Middleworld
16		Warming Up