The Line Is a Curve

The Line Is a Curve
Studio album by Kae Tempest
Released	8 April 2022 (2022-04-08)
Genre	Spoken word hip hop poetry electronic
Length	44:54
Label	Fiction
Producer	Dan Carey Rick Rubin Grian Chatten Kae Tempest
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
"More Pressure" Released: 10 January 2022 "Salt Coast" Released: 4 February 2022 "No Prizes" Released: 7 March 2022 "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
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

The Line Is a Curve 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 performance for The Line Is a Curve

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

1. "The Line Is a Curve by Kae Tempest Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
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.