LIVE ATMOSPHERE

Recorded during the band's 2010/2011 tour, Live Atmosphere features a set list full of Curved Air classics all of them originally from their first four studio albums. As such it plays a bit like a live "greatest hits" album. Representing the 1970 debut album Air-Conditioning are Propositions, Hide And Seek, Screw, Stretch, and It Happened Today, all of which sound fantastic here and indeed better than they ever did! 1971's Second Album is represented by the ghost story Everdance and the mega hit Back Street Luv. From 1972's Phantasmagoria comes the rocking Marie Antoinette, the title track and the mellower Melinda (More Or Less). Finally, Easy has been chosen to represent 1973's Air Cut. The live album is bookended by two brand new instrumentals which respectively sets the mood and leaves a good final impression. Overall, this is simply a great set and the performances are full of energy and passion. The band sounds as good as ever.

The line-up on the occasion consists of Sonja Kristina on lead vocals, Florian Pilkington-Miksa on drums, Chris Harris on bass, Kit Morgan on guitar, Robert Norton on keyboards, and Paul Sax on violin. Together they recreate the classic songs very well indeed and given that the recording quality wasn't always the best on the band's early 70's albums, many of these songs sound better than ever before here.

Live Atmosphere is a live masterpiece and my favourite Curved Air album