Curved Air stood out among British progressive rock bands because of its unconventional line-up, which featured captivating female vocalist Sonja Kristina, in a very male-dominated music scene.
Sonja Kristina’s highly distinctive vocals and the outstanding instrumental skills of classically trained Darryl Way (electric violin) and Francis Monkman (keyboards) created one of the most distinct sounds in early progressive rock.
Curved Air made a magnificent debut with ‘Air Conditioning’, their first album that shot to Number 8 in the UK charts when it was released back in 1970. It was hailed as the first ever Picture Disc. The seven minute suite ‘Vivaldi’ features Darryl Way’s multi-tracked violin.
A year after their spectacular debut with ‘ Airconditioning’, Curved Air released their new recording titled ‘ Second Album’ in September 1971. It was an instant success and shot to Number 11 in the UK album charts. It was helped along by the success of ‘Back Street Luv’, the second track that became a smash hit single – it reached Number 4 in the UK singles chart in August that year.
Curved Air comprised Sonja Kristina (vocals), who also wrote ‘Young Mother’ with Darryl Way, the band’s outstanding young virtuoso violinist. With Francis Monkman on guitars and Florian Pilkington-Miksa on drums, the band was hailed as one of the most musically skilled of the progressive rock era.
‘ Phantasmagoria ’ was the third album from the original Curved Air, first released in 1972. It was recorded during a period of change and upheaval, with at least one departure from the line up and internal debate about their musical direction.
Sonja Kristina contributed her compositions ‘Marie Antoinette’ and ‘Melinda (More Or Less)’ and violinist Darryl Way showed his mastery on electric violin and keyboards, notably on pieces such as ‘Ultra Vivaldi’.
Discography
Airconditioning (Warner Bros. Records, 1970)
Second Album (Warner Bros. Records, 1971)
Phantasmagoria (Warner Bros. Records, 1972)
Air Cut (Warner Bros. Records, 1973)
Curved Air Live (Deram, 1975)
Midnight Wire (RCA Victor, 1975)
Airborne (RCA Victor, 1976)
Lovechild (Essential, 1990)
Live At The BBC (Band Of Joy, 1995)
Live 1990 “The Hide & Seek Tour ’99” (Membran Music Ltd., 2005)
Live Atmosphere (2012)
North Star (Curved Air Records, 2014)
Curved Space & Infinity (Curved Air Records, 2016)
Tapestry Of Propositions (Curved Air Records, 2016)
The Second British Rock Meeting 1972 (Curved Air Records, 2018)
Live Under The Bridge – The 45th Anniversary Concert album (Curved Air Records, 2019)