Record Reviews

CURVED AIR ~ AIR CONDITIONING (EXPANDED EDITION) ESOTERIC 2616 (Barcode: 5013929471641) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 - 1971 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the debut album by the British Progressive Rock group Curved AirFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and ambitious representatives of the genre. The band was fronted by the charismatic and idiosyncratic female vocalist Sonja KristinaFind albums by this artist and included two classically trained musicians: violinist Darryl WayFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / guitarist Francis MonkmanFind albums by this artist. Bassist Robert MartinFind albums by this artist and drummer Florian Pilkington-MiksaFind albums by this artist completed the lineup. The album presented ten original songs written or co-written by Way, Monkman and Martin, which offered a unique amalgamation of British Folk, Classical Music, Electronic Music, Rock and Jazz influences, unmatched by any of their contemporaries. This remastered and expanded edition adds one outtake from the original recording sessions and an entire second CD of alternate takes, singles and BBC radio recordings. The somewhat muddy sound quality of the original album was significantly improved on this reissue. When originally released in 1970, the album (and the group) achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim, despite its unconventional sound and complexity, which of course was a sign of the times. Curved Air were one the first British acts to use the violin in their lineup (see also High TideFind albums by this artist and East Of EdenFind albums by this artist) and the first to feature violin to such an extent. Sonja Kristina remains to this very day one of the most distinctive Rock vocalists. She managed to maintain a steady, although less glamorous career over the years, producing a substantial volume of excellent music. She also fronts the reformed edition of Curved Air. Overall this is one of the essential British Classic Rock / Prog albums, which lost absolutely nothing of its strength over time and still sounds fresh and moving today. This reissue is a splendid opportunity for the new generation of music listeners to discover this everlasting classic. Essential piece of music history!

Updated: 18/07/2019Posted: 18/07/2019

CD 2 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

	EAST OF EDEN ~ EAST OF EDEN REPERTOIRE 4877 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 3rd album from 1971. After some personnel changes, this is still a very strong release, with a more bluesy direction. Excellent musicianship and great compositions.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

EAST OF EDEN ~ MERCATOR PROJECTED ECLECTIC 1012 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 1st album by the legendary UK Prog group East Of EdenFind albums by this artist. Very jazzy and improvised, with intricate compositions and great playing, this is an a true musical adventure. Considered a must to all Prog fans and a milestone in the birth of the Prog genre. The visionary approach is years ahead of its time. A true masterpiece!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

EAST OF EDEN ~ SNAFU ESOTERIC 2034 (Barcode: 5013929713420) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2008 2nd album by one of the most fascinating early British Prog / Jazz-Rock bands East Of EdenFind albums by this artist, co-led by violinist Dave ArbusFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Ron CainesFind albums by this artist and including guitarist Geoff NicholsonFind albums by this artist, bassist Andy SneddonFind albums by this artist and drummer Geoff BrittonFind albums by this artist. The band played a completely unique amalgam of Rock, Jazz and World Music (in fact they were amongst the first bands to incorporate exotic melodies and rhythm patterns borrowed from distant cultures). The resulting material is truly mesmerizing, switching rapidly between purely melodic passages into electrifying improvisations, sometimes almost free form. In retrospect this is definitely one of the more accomplished works recorded at the time, still completely relevant four decades later. The extensive bonus material includes the tracks recorded for an aborted album, as well as the bands unexpected hit “Jig-a-Jig”, which was their only, albeit short lived, flirt with commercial success. A classic of the genre and a must in any serious record collection!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

EAST OF EDEN ~ SNAFU ECLECTIC 1013 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 2nd album from 1970. It saw the band take their particular fusion of jazz, psychedelia, world music and even blue beat, one step further. As ever, the instrumental prowess of Dave Arbus on violin dominated the music, leading eventually to Arbus playing the infamous violin solo on `Baba O`Reilly` by The Who. `Snafu` was the result of many months in the studio, where a second album had been virtually completed before being shelved in favour of starting work on a fresh project. The `lost` album as well as their legendary single `Jig-A-Jig` are added here as bonus tracks.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

MANFRED MANN CHAPTER THREE ~ RADIO DAYS VOL. 3 EAST CENTRAL ONE 3 (Barcode: 5060051334481) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1968 - 1970 Released: 2019 This is the third volume of an archive series collecting the BBC radio recordings by the various groups led by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Manfred MannFind albums by this artist. This volume, recorded between 1968 and 1970 includes the recordings by the short lived Manfred Mann Chapter ThreeFind albums by this artist, which consisted of Mann on keyboards and Mike HuggFind albums by this artist on vocals and piano (the only survivors from the Manfred Mann group), German saxophonist Bernie LivingFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve YorkFind albums by this artist (ex-East Of EdenFind albums by this artist) and drummer Craig CollingeFind albums by this artist (ex-ProcessionFind albums by this artist). A five piece brass section: saxophonists Clive StevensFind albums by this artist, Carl GriffithsFind albums by this artist and Dave CoxhillFind albums by this artist, trombonist Gerald DrewettFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Sonny CorbettFind albums by this artist completed the lineup. The album presents forty five tracks, which include radio, live and studio recordings, original announcements and interviews and even radio commercials, altogether a superb historical glance at British Jazz-Rock at its best. By late 1970 Manfred Mann Chapter Three fell apart and Mann continued with the newly founded Manfred Mann`s Earth BandFind albums by this artist, which is featured on the next volume of this series. Before Manfred Mann Chapter Three was officially launched, Mann and Hugg created a soundtrack to the "Venus In Furs" movie and twenty four excerpts from the soundtrack are included here (all previously unreleased). The radio recordings include not only BBC material but also Australian and Swedish radio recordings. Manfred Mann Chapter Three was a realization of a dream Mann kept in his mind since he started the group Manfred Mann in 1963. Finally liberated from the Pop / Rock image he was free to indulge in Jazz, which was always his preferred habitat. The group offered some of the most interesting British Jazz-Rock recordings on the two albums it managed to release before disbanding. Both the albums and the material presented here are a most welcome reminder of an Avant-Garde attempt to combine Free Form Jazz with Rock. Overall this is an absolute must for all Manfred Mann fans and connoisseurs of British Jazz-Rock of the mid to late 1960s period and a stunning historical document of the period, which should not be missed! The music was compiled by Greg RussoFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the informative booklet accompanying this album – great job mate!

Updated: 13/07/2019Posted: 12/07/2019

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend