Curved Air
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18271
Printed Date: August 13 2025 at 13:18
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Curved Air
Posted By: Starette
Subject: Curved Air
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 13:18
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The only Curved Air song I've known for ages has been the incredibly girly but nice Backstreet Luv. Thats the one all my friends like. But now that I've seen a video of Vivaldi from a 1975 jam, I think I'm in love....the things mr Way does with that violin!! (With the music- not the talented but curly-headed musician) If theres any good C.A fan out there then please tell me a good place to start with them. I've heard two pieces but I want more..MORE I say! ------------- 50 tonne angel falls to the earth... |
I'm particularly interested in the composition of Vivaldi: it sounds like Way is half playing around with whatever comes to his head, and half playing Vivaldi music. My favourite bit is when he bangs it around then distorts it to Ringwraith-squeal Replies:
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 13:26
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"Phantasmagoria" is probably their best album.
-------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 13:29
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I only have Second Album, but "Piece of Mind" is what got me interested
in them. They're good, but not what I'd consider a "Tier 1" prog band.
Just my opinion...
------------- Pure Brilliance: 
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Posted By: Politician
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 14:21
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My favourite album by far is their debut "Air Conditioning", which has the
studio version of "Vivaldi" on it. A classic album bridging the psychedelic and progressive genres. |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 14:45
| I've only heard Phantasmagoria, which is a good album. |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 15:09
| Must say that their first 4 albums are first class prog; you really can't go wrong with any of them. Curved Air are one of the most underrated prog acts out there; they are a band that to me deserve 'first division' status up there with the greats. |
Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 15:12
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I love CURVED AIR, it's one of my favourite prog band. I think their best album is "Second Album", released in 1971. All the tracks in this album are great, but the best song is the 12-minute "Piece Of Mind", one of the most innovative song of the entire progressive. Their debut album "Air Conditioning" (1970), famous for being the history's first LP-sized "picture disc", is a very good album with Darryl Way's violin and Sonja Kristina's splendid voice in evidence. There are great songs such as "Vivaldi", "It happened Today", "Proposition", "Screw", "Situations" and "Rob One". "Phantasmagoria", released in 1972 is their third album and the last one with the original line-up, considered by many people as their best. Yes, it is really good with very nice songs. "Marie Antoniette" and "Melinda" are two stunning ballads in the classic and typical CURVED AIR style. "Cheetah" is an instrumental piece for violin and "Ultra Vivaldi" is a remake of the original song only for VCS-3 synthesizer. The track "Over And Above" reminds me a lot of "Octopus" - styled GENTLE GIANT, featured vibes and xylophone by Frank Ricotti. "Air Cut" is the fourth work released in 1973. It is the album that passes the reformation of the group. Original members Darryl Way, Francis Monkman and Florian Pilkington-Miksa left the band. Eddie Jobson (keyboards, violin), Kirby Gregory (guitars, vocals) Jim Russel (drums) and bassist Mike Wedgwood joined the group. Of particular merit here is the young (17) multi-talented Eddie Jobson. "Purple Speed Queen" is a great opener, with a stunning synth solo that reminds me to Rick Wakeman, "Elfin Boy" is more melodic with the beautiful voice of the singer in evidence. The best song of this album is the 10-minute "Metamorphosis" which reminds me to RENAISSANCE. It's one of the best song of their career. "Midnight Wire", released in 1975 showed a step backward in comparison with their earlier works. Sonja Kristina's housband Stewart Copeland is the new drummer and Mick Jacques is the new guitarist. Darryl Way rejoined the band but this album has a few good songs. My favourite is the titled-track. "Airborne" (1976), with Tony Reeves from COLOSSEUM, is the last CURVED AIR's album, and it's their les progressive album. "Lovechild", released in 1990, consists in previously unreleased material recorded in between 1972 and 1973. It's good, similar to "Air Cut", but not at the same level. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 15:59
| I've got ''Curved Air Live''.Excellent album that includes many of those tracks mentioned by Andrew.Plus the DVD of their Beat Club performance which is a bit of a rip off as its only about 30 mins of music. |
Posted By: CandyAppleRed
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 17:26
| I've said it before, and I'll say it again - "Air Cut" is a five star classic. The problem is that it has, as far as I know (please prove me wrong, people) it has never been released on CD. |
Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 18:41
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Yes, it was released on CD, but i can't remember who released it; maybe Progresive Line, but i'm not sure. You can buy it here: http://www.music.allofmp3.com - www.music.allofmp3.com |
CandyAppleRed wrote:Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 18:56
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Found it!!! It was reprinted by Rock Fever (RFM007) at the price of 15$, look at this site: http://www.freakemporium.com - www.freakemporium.com Or... http://www.cdbox.it - www.cdbox.it |
Posted By: transend
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 22:46
| Eddie Jobson's playing on 'Air cut' is wonderful...makes the album.. |
Posted By: The Rock
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 23:39
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And they came back in 1990.A live album exist. ------------- What's gonna come out of my mouth is gonna come out of my soul."Skip Prokop" |
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: February 01 2006 at 03:22
I like this one too.Air Cut is also a great one.It has "EASY",which is ,IMHO,best Curved Air's ballad."Metamorphosis" is great epic too |
Posted By: Topographic Oce
Date Posted: February 01 2006 at 08:00
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Time to lower the tone,as a teenager I bought Air Conditiong for he following easons 1) Sonja Kristina was absoluteley gorgeous 2) It was a fancy picture disc 3) It ws cracking album |
Posted By: Starette
Date Posted: February 02 2006 at 04:03
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Is it just me or do many guys called Andrew tend to have fav-bands with females as the lead vocals? Perhaps you fans could help me on one particular thing then. I saw a video clip of Curved Air playing Vivaldi but does anyone know when and where it was filmed? for the record- we see random shots of fish in aquariums super-imposed on the band while the synth takes us 'underwater' right after Sonja sings. And yes- she is...EXTREMELY gorgeous. ------------- 50 tonne angel falls to the earth... |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: February 02 2006 at 06:11
It originally appeared on The Beat Club which was a German rock programme.It is available on a DVD (which I have) but all you get is the 30 minutes of the performance (live but in a studio) plus a 7 minute interview with Darryl Way.I have no idea where it was actually recorded although Germany might be a fair guess! |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: February 02 2006 at 06:33
If it was Beat Club then probably Bremen, since the program was broadcast from there. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: February 02 2006 at 07:12
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I saw them play in London with the original line up on that tour - an excellent gig and Sonja Kristina sang beautifully and still looked stunning. Second Album is my favourite, although there was plenty of good material on the first album and Phantasmogoria as well. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: February 02 2006 at 08:47
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Agreed! |
Posted By: Flip_Stone
Date Posted: February 02 2006 at 13:11
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Great band. I love Curved Air and especially the beautiful sultry Sonja Kristina. Have all of their albums except the rare Air Cut, which may be their best. Personally, Phantasmagoria seems to me to be one of their weakest albums. Second Album and Lovechild are much stronger, and Air Conditioning is more prog. than usual.
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Posted By: Starette
Date Posted: February 03 2006 at 02:46
Well the walls are red but then they turn to grey, and Sonja seems to sing out of tune towards the end of her 10second part in the piece. In fact, she looks stoned. Do you think that could be it? I have it on a special DVD too= but alas there's no interview with Darryl ------------- 50 tonne angel falls to the earth... |
Posted By: The Wizard
Date Posted: July 07 2006 at 16:43
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This is a band I want to get into-I've seen them described as 'glam-prog', which sounds very intresting. Plus, I love hearing a nice violin in a rock song; pure bliss. -------------  
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Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: July 07 2006 at 16:48
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I have Phantasmagoria, which, admittedly, is pretty good, but not worth all the praise it gets, IMO.
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: July 07 2006 at 17:31
Which isn't a huge amount, to be fair. "Over and Above" is an amazing track. It just does everything I want from a bit of sympho.
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Posted By: pepo
Date Posted: July 07 2006 at 18:06
| One of the best artrock bands. I have heard everything except the ones with eddie jobson. The first three are loaded with lots of catchy tracks. The last 2 ones are the weakest. I specially like the live one. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: July 08 2006 at 02:49
"Air Cut" is stunning, and Eddie Jobson's performance on both violin and keys is out of this world - especially if you think that he was only 17 at the time. His piano playing on "Metamorphosis" is among the most beautiful I've heard. Sheer class! I also own "Phantasmagoria", which is a very good album, but IMHO not on the same level as "Air Cut". |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: July 08 2006 at 04:59
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Second Album is my favorite album although Over and Above is my favorite track. All the first four are fantastic.
------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |