I've not posted here in years, although I do still grab recipes from here. Looking for a different base I stumbled across this thread and gave it a try. Not sure how accurately I followed it as I flicked through the video and basically followed the rough method in the description. Didn't cook it for very long after adding spices, perhaps 10 minutes. Still, making (again, roughly) his Jalfrezi recipe and the result was excellent, by a margin the best I have ever produced and closest to what I'm looking for, appreciating we're all looking for something different.
Whilst I have made some great curries from bases posted here, as often as not I find there is a bit of an acrid taste, which I have always put down to boiling onions (I would never boil onions without having fried them first in any other cooking). This method removes that and will definitely be how I approach things in future.
'service onions' from the Jalfrezi recipe is also a revelation.