For the past few posts I've been looking at mainstream stuff - Dusty Springfield, Van Morrison, Peter Sarstedt.
Here's a break from that. Something a bit more challenging. I'm not sure how many of you will stay with me on this.
Curved Air had modest chart success with 'Back Street Luv', a single from their second album, conveniently called "Second Album (1971)" - but I fell for this, their third LP and the first one I bought.
A mix of classical violin, psychedelia, prog rock and just plain hypnotic vocals by Sonja Kristina, 'Phantasmagoria' is not an album to be taken lightly. It was different enough to be intriguing and worth the effort required to listen and appreciate it.
Originally a 4 piece group called Sisyphus, they were hired to play accompaniment for a new Galt McDermott play. Galt was the force behind the rock opera 'Hair' and Sonja was in the London stage production of 'Hair' playing the part of Chrissie. Galt suggested she should join Sisyphus, everyone agreed and Curved Air became the result. Their first album 'Air Conditioning' came out in 1970.
The group went through quite a few line-up changes and break-ups / reunions over the years.
During one of those breaks Sonja worked as a croupier at the London Playboy Club !!
Reforming after their third breakup in 1974 they brought in a new drummer. Stewart Copeland.
Yes, THAT Stewart Copeland.
He stayed with them long enough to play on their next two albums 'Midnight Wire' and 'Airborne' and to start a relationship with Sonja. He left the group in 1976 and in 1977 he formed 'The Police'.
His relationship with Sonja led to them marrying in 1982. He adopted Sonja's son from a previous laison and they had 2 more boys of their own. They divorced in 1991.
I have 4 of Curved Air's first 5 albums. 'Air Conditioning 1970' - 'Second Album 1971' - 'Phantasmagoria 1972' - 'Midnight Wire 1975'.
Some albums and individual tracks are easier to come to terms with, some have major style changes that reflect the band members at the time and others are almost too self-indulgent to be enjoyable, but when it is used effectively, the one shining constant is Sonja's voice.
The links below are all tracks from this album.
I'll leave this out there to be dropped into your own personal 'love it/hate it' category.
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