Curved Air - Phantasmagoria
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Curved AirEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2001-02-13
Music Label: Collector's Choice
Soundtracks:
- Marie Antoinette
- Melinda (More or Less)
- Not Quite the Same
- Cheetah
- Ultra-Vivaldi
- Phantasmagoria
- Whose Shoulder Are You Looking over Anyway?
- Over and Above
- Once a Ghost, Always a Ghost
Free Music Notes for Phantasmagoria
Free Music Review: An excellent Curved Air album
Hit: 5 Stars
I am not quite sure why it took me so long to "come around" to Curved Air - this is fantastic English progressive rock that holds a great deal of interest for me. Released in 1972, Phantasmagoria comes close to the glory of their debut album and is probably their most musically involved and "proggy". After this album, the band pretty much fell apart leaving only lead vocalist Sonja Kristina and bassist Mike Wedgewood to carry on with the Aircut album (1973).
The musicians on Phantasmagoria include Sonja Kristina (lead vocals; acoustic guitar); Darryl Way (violin; piano); Francis Monkman (guitar; Hammond organ; synthesizers; mellotron); Mike Wedgewood (electric bass; backing vocals); and Florian Pilkington-Miksa (drums and percussion). Guest musicians include Frank Ricotti (xylophone and vibes) and several horn players that are not credited. All of the band members are fantastic and some even received formal musical training at the Royal College of Music (Daryl). I think however, that I appreciate the lead vocals of Sonja the most. After all, women in progressive rock were a rarity and it is a real treat to hear Sonja's light and airy vocal style in this context.
Musically, this is full blown progressive rock that mixes classical, rock, and experimental approaches together. There are also some delicate moments too, which is especially evident in Sonja's delicate and haunting tune Melinda (More or Less). Francis Monkman's brief instrumental ode to Vivaldi is also interesting and was played entirely on synthesizers. Darryl Way also has an instrumental piece that features the violin as a solo instrument with excellent accompaniment by the entire band. The centerpiece of the album however is the 19'29" epic, four part Phantasmagoria suite which was written largely by Francis Monkman with contributions by Sonja. This is a decent large-scale composition that boasts some exceptionally intricate time signatures and fantastic ensemble playing. There are some psychedelic experimental passages here and there that really add a lot to the suite.
This CD reissue by Collector's Choice Music is just OK and has a few informative liner notes that discuss some historical tidbits, along with specifics about the Phantasmagoria album itself.
All in all, this is another great album of progressive rock by Curved Air that is highly recommended along with Air Conditioning (1970); and Second Album (1971).
Phantasmagoria Poster
Top 20 in the UK when it was released in 1972, includes 'Marie Antoinette'. Original artwork and new liner notes. Prime prog-rock! Standard jewel case. 2000 release.Pop Music CDs
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