Second Album

Infinitely more rewarding than their debut was Curved Air's prophetically titled Second Album. Bassist Ian Eyre replaced Robert Martin, the first in what would become an all too often occurrence for the band. The considerable musical talents of the classically trained duo of violinist Darryl Way and keyboardist Francis Monkman finally gel here, even though their compositions split the album's sides. Way's "Young Mother" opens and features some excellent synthesizer work from Monkman. The funky "Back Street Luv" b/w "Everdance" was a hit for the band the previous summer, reaching No. 5 in the UK. Kristina's voice is quite unique for rock, let alone progressive rock: it's very formal and always up in the mix, something Renaissance would replicate a few years later. Monkman's "Everdance" is a refreshing change with Way's violin well integrated into the song, while "Piece Of Mind" finally delivers the kind of fusion of rock and classics the band initially promised. The album was again well received in the UK, perhaps this time (without picture disc) more genuinely so, reaching No. 11. Bassist Mike Wedgewood was on board for their next album in 1972, Phantasmagoria. It again presents a further refinement of Curved Air's classical sound, especially on compositions like "Marie Antoinette" and "Over And Above". The album again charted in the UK, albeit only reaching No. 20. It would be the last with both Way and Monkman (for now anyway) as the band would undergo massive personnel changes.