Album review: CURVED AIR – Air Conditioning (reissue)

Esoteric [Release date: 26.01.18]

Whether by design or default, Warner Bros hit something of a mother lode when they launched their UK music arm back in 1970 with the much trumpeted signing of this then-unknown talent.

It was a leap of considerable faith to stump up the eye-watering advance of £100,000 which overnight placed a champagne and limo lifestyle the way of members of Spirit-influenced Sisyphus and the ex-folk singer and actress that were to become Curved Air. But the label’s A&R antennae were right to quiver.

The band’s debut – a UK charter – was to become one of the most important progressive rock releases ever (an achievement many have ascribed to, but fewer can evidence) and it’s down to a combination of bravura, timing and musicality.

An exotic line-up included classically-trained Daryl Way wielding a clear Perspex violin, camera-friendly Sonja Kristina (soon a music press pin-up on the walls of all right-thinking teenage boys’ bedrooms) and an Old Etonian drummer called Florian Pilkington -Miksa: in short, PR heaven.

The timing of the release also locked it into that point where progressive music hit its stride with major labels rushing to launch their own respective imprints. And of course there was the music: a distinctly-assured and almost brooding affair that seemed not to sit anywhere else on the scene.

Their compositions slewed rock into classical stylings with Kristina’s individualistic vocals fighting for breath over Way’s wall of wailing strings, Francis Monkman’s churning keyboards and fluid guitar, and Florian’s hammering percussion, amidst churningly muddy production that this re-master has done great service in improving.

‘Curved Air’ remains an impressive and engaging listen and this package effectively supersedes previous reissues by bagging in a bonus disc of the unreleased, A and B sides of singles, and period BBC Radio sessions revealing a hammer hardening of its repertoire when the band got stoked up live. Enlightening reading in the booklet’s interviews, too.
*****

Review by Peter Muir

Album review (Air Cut)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 24 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 26 November 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)