Record Reviews
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  | 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 |
  | CURVED AIR ~ AIR CUT
ESOTERIC 2617 (Barcode: 5013929471740) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of the fourth 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. Following the departure of the three founding members of the group: Darryl WayFind albums by this artist, Francis MonkmanFind albums by this artist and Florian Pilkington-MiksaFind albums by this artist, Kristina and bassist Mike WedgwoodFind albums by this artist carried the group´s name into the future, enlisting the violinist / keyboardist Eddie JobsonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Kirby GregoryFind albums by this artist and drummer Jim RussellFind albums by this artist to complete the new lineup, which recorded this album. It presents eight original songs, written by Gregory, Jobson, Wedgwood and also Kristina, who wrote the lyrics to two songs written by others. This remastered reissue offers improved sound quality but no bonus material.
The music offered a unique amalgamation of British Folk, Classical Music, Electronic Music, Rock and Jazz influences, unmatched by any of their contemporaries and despite the departure of the two songwriters responsible for the majority of the material present on the first three classic albums, the material this album offers is on a par with its predecessors. Sadly this lineup proved to be short lived and disbanded shortly after the album was released in the summer of 1973.
In 1974 Curved Air reunited and recorded one live album called simply "LiveFind albums with this title", which featured the original lineup except for the bassist and a year later Kristina and Way managed to put another lineup together and recorded two more albums: "Midnight WireFind albums with this title" (1975) and "AirborneFind albums with this title" (1976) before disbanding for many years to come.
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: 25/07/2019Posted: 25/07/2019 | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | CURVED AIR ~ PHANTASMAGORIA (EXPANDED EDITION)
ESOTERIC 2638 (Barcode: 5013929473843) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of the third 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 Mike WedgwoodFind albums by this artist and drummer Florian Pilkington-MiksaFind albums by this artist completed the lineup. A brass section was also used on this album and the Jazz vibraphonist / percussionist Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist played on selected tracks. The album presented nine original songs written by Way and Monkman, with lyrics by Kristina, 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 three bonus tracks (A-side of a single and two previously unreleased studio tracks) and entire DVD of TV appearances by the band. The somewhat muddy sound quality of the original album was significantly improved on this reissue.
When originally released in 1972, the album established Curved Air as one of the most important and innovative British Prog groups at the time and proved that the band was constantly evolving and exploring new territory. This album used some of the most advanced and complex electronic music elements thanks to Monkman´s interest in the subject. Of the triptych created by the first three albums this one is by far the most coherent and perfectly put together one.
Sadly, just a few months after this album was released the three founding members of the group: Way, Monkman and Pilkington-Miksa decided to leave the group and go their separate ways. Kristina and Wedgwood carried the group´s name into the future, and the band would go into several reunion project in the years that followed.
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: 21/07/2019Posted: 21/07/2019 | CD+DVD 2 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | CURVED AIR ~ SECOND ALBUM (EXPANDED EDITION)
ESOTERIC 2637 (Barcode: 5013929473744) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of the second 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 Ian EyreFind albums by this artist and drummer Florian Pilkington-MiksaFind albums by this artist completed the lineup. A string section was also used on this album. The album presented eight original songs written by Way and Monkman, 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 five BBC radio recordings and entire DVD of TV clips of the other video material by the band. The somewhat muddy sound quality of the original album was significantly improved on this reissue.
When originally released in 1971, 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 Tide and East Of Eden) and the first to feature violin to such an extent. One of the songs on this album ("Back Street Luv") charted successfully and introduced the group to much wider audience beyond the strict Prog circle.
The two sides of the original LP album were quite different; the first side with the songs written by Way and lyrics by Kristina is more Rock oriented whereas the second side with songs by Monkman is much more complex and experimental and includes an almost thirteen minutes long epic track which closes the album.
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: 21/07/2019Posted: 19/07/2019 | CD+DVD 2 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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