Curved Air

Overview

Curved Air developed from Sisyphus, a group formed in 1969 by violinist Darryl Way and keyboardist-guitarist Francis Monkman with pianist Nick Simon, bassist Rob Martin and drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa. After music written for the play Who the Murderer Was, Simon departed, Sonja Kristina joined on vocals and the new group took its name from Terry Riley's composition A Rainbow in Curved Air.

The original records do not rely on one sound alone. Way's electric violin, Monkman's keyboards, guitar and VCS3 synthesizer, Kristina's lead voice and Pilkington-Miksa's drumming created the first three albums, while bass personnel changed. Later versions introduced Eddie Jobson, Mike Wedgwood, Kirby Gregory, Stewart Copeland and other players, making lineup history essential to understanding the catalogue.

Formation & History

Curved Air signed to Warner Bros. and released Air Conditioning in November 1970. Its limited picture-disc edition was among the earliest commercially issued rock LP picture discs; the music had already been tested onstage. Although Rob Martin received the bass credit, he left because of a hand injury before recording, and Monkman played the album's bass parts. The record reached number 8 on the UK album chart.

Second Album followed in September 1971 and reached number 11, while "Back Street Luv" reached number 4 on the UK singles chart. Phantasmagoria, the first album with bassist Mike Wedgwood, reached number 20. Way, Monkman and Pilkington-Miksa then left; the Air Cut lineup brought in teenage violinist-keyboardist Eddie Jobson and guitarist Kirby Gregory.

The original musicians reunited for Live in 1974 before another studio lineup formed around Kristina, Way, guitarist Mick Jacques and drummer Stewart Copeland. Copeland played on Midnight Wire and Airborne, not just one album. The group ended its original run in 1976, reunited for a documented 1990 concert and returned as an active band in the late 2000s. The official site now bills the 2026 UK dates as the farewell tour.

Sound & Style

Way's violin can carry a composed lead, double a vocal phrase or become the centre of an extended instrumental such as "Vivaldi". Monkman does not merely supply accompaniment: organ, piano, Mellotron, electric harpsichord, guitar and VCS3 effects give Air Conditioning and Phantasmagoria different layers of acoustic and electronic colour. Kristina's phrasing moves between close, conversational singing and projected theatrical lines without requiring every arrangement to become operatic.

The writing divisions are audible. On Second Album, the first side is led largely by Way's compositions, while Monkman's three pieces occupy the second; "Piece of Mind" extends his keyboard and structural approach across more than twelve minutes. Phantasmagoria places Way's song-led first side beside Monkman's electronic and ensemble experiments, with Kristina's voice linking both. Later lineups changed the balance rather than reproducing this exact design.

Why They Still Matter

Curved Air's record is more substantial than a story of neglected innovators. The first three albums all reached the British top 20, and "Back Street Luv" was a number 4 single. Their documented distinction lies in how particular musicians combined: Way's electric violin, Monkman's multi-keyboard and electronic palette, Kristina's voice and successive rhythm sections created arrangements that could move between concise songs, composed instrumental writing and longer forms.

The later history also connects several branches of British rock without making Curved Air merely a stepping stone. Jobson's 1973 work preceded Roxy Music and UK; Copeland's two studio albums preceded the Police; Way, Monkman and Kristina each pursued separate projects before later returns. The farewell dates advertised for 2026 place a defined ending on the current performing chapter while the official archive continues to document recordings from multiple lineups.

Sources & Further Reading

Curved Air — official site — current farewell dates, chart summary and band overview.

Curved Air — official album discography — original albums, archival releases and later recordings.

Curved Air — Sonja Kristina biography — lineup changes, Copeland period and Kristina's continuing role.

Cherry Red / Esoteric — Phantasmagoria — 1972 lineup and expanded-edition documentation.

Cherry Red — Curved Air catalogue — current reissues and archival releases.