LOVECHILD

The genesis of this album is rather strange. One can ask: why the hell was this material not released while the songs were composed or: why the hell was it necessary to release songs from previous sessions and which couldn't make the original album?

My answer is pretty easy: it is just because the material available here is not good enough. The listener is not confronted to a lost jewel to say the least. Even if this album is nothing worse than some of their latest work available (but this has nothing to do with these, since these songs were recorded several years before), there is little to retain here.

My favourite track is ''Seasons''. Some ''Renaissance'' feel, a good vocal performance from Sonja and a pleasant melody . It is also one of the longest ''Curved Air'' tracks ever. The crystal clear vocal work from Sonja is particularly pleasant. It has a definite psychedelic taste and an oppressive mood. The one and only highlight

But the reggae-oriented ''The Flasher'' is probably not what you would have expected from ''Curved Air''. A total disaster and a typical ''press next'' tune.

Between those two extremes, there are some enjoyable songs like ''Lovechild'' or ''The Dancer''. Unfortunately the jazzy feel of a song like ''The Widow'' ruins somewhat the good impression. The closing ''Paris By Night'' is another ''Renaissance'' piece of music. The piano intro (almost three minutes though) is particularly similar to the work of this band. While one expects the song to really kick off after this, the disappointment prevails. It is only a repetitive instrumental track with little flavour.

The songs could have remained in the vaults IMO. This effort is very short (some thirty five minutes) and even if it would have been a pity for ''Seasons'', the band wouldn't have cared in releasing such an album. The only great track available here (''Seasons'') should have made its entry on ''Air Cut'' and we could have skipped this album easily.

Two stars.