When I was a teenager, a slightly less mainstream progressive band was Curved Air, even though they’d had an actual hit single in Back Street Luv. They were too eclectic for some. But we all knew of them because their debut was an early picture disc. Formed in 1970, they blended classical, folk, and electronic music. They carved out a distinct sound with their unconventional instrumentation and the powerful vocals of Sonja Kristina.
The band's genesis can be traced back to 1968 when drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa and bassist Rob Martin met guitarist/keyboardist Francis Monkman. They initially played covers with the idea of forming a classical/rock band.. Monkman then met Darryl Way, a fellow Royal College of Music student and violinist, and together they formed the group Sisyphus.
Curved Air officially formed in March 1970. Their manager, Mark Hanau, suggested adding a female singer, and Sonja Kristina proved to be the perfect fit. The band's name was inspired by Terry Riley's minimalist composition "A Rainbow in Curved Air." which is very cool.
Curved Air quickly gained attention and became the first British band signed by Warner Bros. Records. Their debut album, ‘Air Conditioning’ released in November 1970, reached number eight on the UK charts. This album was a superb mix of styles. It was hard to define them..
Darryl Way's virtuosic violin often took the lead instrument role and gave them a distinctive sound compared to guitar-dominated prog bands.
Francis Monkman's experimental keyboards and synthesizers incorporated Mellotron and the VCS3 synthesizer, this added an electronic vibe..
Sonja Kristina was a rare female presence, her vocals were powerful and versatile. Blending folk traditions with theatrical and operatic elements.
Direct quotations (like Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in their track "Vivaldi") and classical arrangements were woven into their rock framework.
Their second album, **"Second Album"** (1971), featured Ian Eyre replacing Robert Martin on bass and included "Back Street Luv," which reached the Top 5 in the UK.
Their third album, **"Phantasmagoria"** (1972) which is my favourite, continued their progressive exploration, at times it feels mystical and timeless. After touring for this album, most of the original members (Florian, Darryl, and Francis) departed, leaving Sonja Kristina and bassist Mike Wedgwood.
For their fourth album, ‘Air Cut’ (1973), Kristina and Wedgwood recruited a young lineup including Eddie Jobson (keyboards, violin), Kirby Gregory (guitar), and Jim Russell (drums). This album had a more guitar-rock-oriented sound. Eddie Jobson later left to join Roxy Music.
Over the years, Curved Air has seen numerous lineup changes, with Sonja Kristina being the sole consistent member. Notably, Stewart Copeland, who would later achieve global fame as the drummer for The Police, played drums for Curved Air in the mid-1970s on the albums ‘Midnight Wire’ (1975) and ‘Airborne’ (1976).
In common with many brilliant musicians of the time, they brought musical ambition and talent to their output. Whereas the likes of Keith Emerson brought classical music to rock, ELP never had the whimsical folk element of Curved Air. Yes, were probably more outright flashy and Genesis, while sharing a certain whimsical charm, were more complex and obtuse than Curved Air. It was quite common for some kids to reject a prog band if they were ‘too classical’ because it was seen as posh, intellectual and establishment and maybe that limited them long term. But they were fabulously imaginative and inventive. Phantasmagoria is, for me, absolutely transportative; a world on its own, hinted at by the cover art and a timeless piece of work. When you listen to Back Street Luv, it’s an extraordinary swirling, grinding sound. Almost a bit spooky until the chorus. It got to #4! Not your typical chart music.
And of course, a band led by a woman was so rare as to be worthy of comment in itself and appealed to us in a primal way as teenage boys. Even as a precocious teenager, I saw liking Curved Air as a marker for the more ambitious, even intelligent rock connoisseur. You had to like the highways and byways they walked.
They only had the first three albums make the charts, but all of them are excellent, including a live album, and they have a timeless quality that breaks free of the era that bore it.
A Rainbow in Curved Air...
