| The Line Is a Curve | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 8 April 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:54 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Kae Tempest chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Line Is a Curve | ||||
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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
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[1] |
| Metacritic | 84/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Clash | 7/10[4] |
| DIY |  [5] |
| The Guardian | [6] |
| Pitchfork | 7/10[7] |
| musicOMH | [8] |
| NME | [9] |
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.[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[10] | 16 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[11] | 4 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] | 33 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 8 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[14] | 1 |
References
- ^ "The Line Is a Curve by Kae Tempest Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ a b "The Line Is a Curve by Kae Tempest Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "The Line Is a Curve - Kae Tempest | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Neale, Matthew (4 April 2022). "Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve". Clash. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Morris, Kadish (10 April 2022). "Kae Tempest: This Line Is a Curve review – sensitive and punchy". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Madden, Emma (13 April 2022). "The Line Is a Curve – Kae Tempest". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Hogwood, Ben (8 April 2025). "Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve". musicOMH. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 15/4/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart on 15/4/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart on 15/4/2022 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
