Curly Hair

"...later two people stand atop of a table and chair, one with a xylophone, one with a guitar, both barefoot. Curly Hair like to 'use the space', hence the unconventional positions they've taken for their last song. Previously from the stage, the duo endeared themselves to those present playing sweet twee pop songs about 11+ exams, living in dirty houses and siblings who can't say your name right. It's cute and endearing but not so much that it'll start to annoy you after the third listen. Back on their new elevated podiums Curly Hair finish off their set to warm applause before hopping down to let Thee Oracle take their place" - Kruger Magazine

“Brighton folk-pop duo Jessica & Ben are Curly Hair, members of the celebrated Willkommen Collective. Their brand of swoony, toe tapping, boy/girl anti-folk is both refreshing - and ironically spring-like as we plunge into the long deep winter nights. Indeed my heart was filled with spring joy by the opening track Blow the house down on their new Ivy League EP, from the optimistic organs, to the foot-stomping midnight chant-alongs, Jessica's successful bittersweet lament in the verse that turns into a head-bobbingly tuneful, choral chant. ‘Let's get cleanly!’ is at the other end of the aural spectrum - its swoony, twinkling, strum-alongs are given wistful form by Jess and Ben's intertwined melodies. It's the sound of a couple winding down for the night in a log cabin. Oh Brother is infectious, clip-clopping camp-fire Americana, given voice by the duo's southern English twang and la la la / do-you-remember-way-back-when? melodies, plus warm accordions. Curly Hair have the literate light/shade of Belle and Sebastian, the dark yet somehow bright twin melodies of The Moldy Peaches, and the promise of recent indie darlings Slow Club. But most of all, they've got rhythm, they've got style, and they've been eating their crusts, ‘cos they are Curly Hair - as in cute, melodic and a bit quirky, but not too sickly twee. Indeed with their Ivy League mini album released through Toy Soldier Records they've got the balance just right” - God is on the TV

“Putting on a Curly Hair song has the same rejuvenating effect as taking a midday walk in the park. There’s no disturbances, no irritating twats hurling their egotistical chants at you, just time allocated to wandering about and collecting your thoughts. The duo’s first release, a six track EP entitled Ivy League, has some organic, flowery illustrations on its cover and is refreshingly real and honest.
The twee, sing a’ long nature of their music belies the confidence and serious intent underneath. Curly Hair are not to be underestimated. Having set up their own label in Brighton, Toy Soldiers (which has incidentally signed Jonquil), recording their own songs and designing CD covers, they seem keen to keep control over their art. As a first for Curly Hair, the record avoids making a bathetic entrance or flogging a pointless statement; it’s satisfied in its handmade process, in the pleasure of playing and recording. Curly Hair set a resonant tone for themselves and their prospective label. If you see them busking somewhere around the country be sure to buy them a cup of tea and a sandwich” - Bearded Magazine

"I love it, I absolutely love it...an absolute delight!" - Marc Riley, BBC 6Music

"(Ivy League is) a really lovely little ep!" - Steve Lamacq, BBC Radio 2

"My kind of band!" - Bethan Elfyn, BBC Radio 1

"Very splendid indeed!" - Gideon Coe, BBC 6 Music

''So good, so good...every track on the EP is very good indeed'' - Jon Hillcock, XFM

(Ivy League is) a great listen and would make the world a happier place if everyone were to be commissioned a copy - Inthenews.co.uk
- Various Radio Stations