Track Listing

1. Young Mother
2. Backstreet Luv
3. Jumbo
4. You Know
5. Puppets
6. Everdance
7. Bright Summer's Day
8. Piece Of Mind

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53354 in Music
• Released on: 1996-04-15
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

One of Brit Prog's Finest
Curved Air - a corner of my heart will always be reserved for this band - they headlined the first gig I went to in 1972 (Birmingham Town Hall) and of course gave me (and the rest of the world's pubescent males) Sonja Kristina!

In my opinion this 2nd album is far and away their most important offering, serving up an eclectic mix of finest prog to pop to classical (a propsicle?) - all of which bursts with the unique moods and atmosphere created by Kristina's unique voicing, Monkman's musical genius and Way's .... well way I suppose. In fact I will declare that this is prog Britain at its very best.

A couple of special mentions: Young Mother and Piece of Mind - possibly two of the finest prog tracks ever recorded. The first, an incredible dreamscape dominated by Monkman's superbly programmed synth (a track that sounds as fresh and exciting to me today as it did back in 1971) - the second a prog symphony that exercises every member of the band throughout its seamless movements. Again Monkman is nothing short of massive throughout and the band as a whole serve up an awesome achievement that, like classical music, is likely to remain listenable forever.

The CD doesn't reproduce like the old vinyl but at least it's clean and easy to fish out and put on!

Highly recommended to anyone of any age that takes their music seriously.

Beguiling and haunting
A friend first played me this album in the mid-1970s and I was immediately hooked. I hadn't heard of Curved Air and, for some reason, I've always felt that there is no way they could have done anything else as good as this, so I've never sought any of their other work. The first side of the original LP was dominated by Darryl Way material, the second by Francis Monkman songs. Keyboards and electric violin seem to dominate behind Sonja Kristina's haunting vocals. Guitar is no more than an occasional rhythm instrument.

"Young Mother"'s circular opening draws you in from the beginning. This is followed by "Back Street Luv", a song which achieved a similar singles chart placing in 1971 to "Imagine" but which is now as obscure as Lennon's song is famous. "You Know", with its jarring rhythm, is one of the more robust performances. "Jumbo" bounces gently and beautifully along as if in slow motion and the disturbing "Puppets" generates a compelling atmosphere.

After two short but bright Monkman songs comes the album's most ambitious item, the epic "Piece Of Mind". Like the rest of the album it's an accomplished recording, but for me the shorter songs are better. Whatever your preference, this is an album of memorable melodies, ingenious textures and fine musicianship.

curved air second album
An all time fave prog cd !!
I remember being introduced to this CD at the school disco when the DJ had the guts to play back street luv and then go head on at the end of the night and play " young mother " gees ! what a change from the run of the mill pop and soul that night.
Outstanding playing and inventivness with all the trade marks of early 70s rock,VCS3s,Mellotron,Hammond, etc.
A tru progressive classic i my mind