Cured Air was, and still is, a progressive rock band. They formed in 1970 and combined electronics with some classical and folk influences. They had a unique approach, using a violin as a lead instrument. They released six studio albums during their first incarnations. They were far more popular and influential in the home country of Great Britain and Europe than in the United States, where they were more of a cult band.
The Curved Air Rarities Volume 3: The Second British Rock Meeting 1972 is the best of the three releases of rarities. It presents possibly the earliest live performance of the band in existence. In addition, the sound is extraordinary for an early 1970s concert recording.
The album consists of their set performed at The Second British Rock Meeting Festival in Germersheim, Germany on May 22, 1972. Curved Air was a band that was much better live than in the studio as they could improvise at will. The best example of their prowess as an improvisational band is a 31 plus minute jam of “Vivaldi,” which highlights the convergence of violin, synthesizer, and guitar.
The six-song set presents about an hour of music that is different from much of what was being produced at the time. Lead singer Sonja Kristina vocals float in and out. She was and remains unique as a female front woman for a progressive rock band.
Curved Air travelled a different road in creating their sound. The concert remains an interesting integration of various sounds that creates a number of textures and layers. In some ways it is a product of its era and the early development of progressive music, but it also points to the future.
