Curved Air were briefly a sensation in the world of British progressive-rock because of the sensual vocals of Sonja Kristina’s (a veteran of the musical Hair) and Darryl Way’s romantic violin. This was the same combination tested in California by It’s a Beautiful Day. Francis Monkman (the real genius behind their compositions) added a synthesiser. Air Conditioning (1970) contains “Vivaldi”, their most celebrated piece. Second Album (1971) delivered their only hit, “Back Street Luv”, and the twelve-minute “Piece of Mind”. Their artistic peak was reached with Phantasmagoria (1972), but the band dissolved after Air Cut (1973), with Eddie Jobson taking over violin and keyboard duties. Kristina was joined by her husband Stewart Copeland (future The Police) for a new version of Curved Air that released Midnight Wire 1975) and Airborne (1976).
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