Air Cut

Following the departure of Darryl Way and Francis Monkman, Sonja Kristina and Mike Wedgwood regrouped as Curved Air and recruited two young prodigies: guitarist Kirby Gregory and keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson. Along with drummer Jim Russell, they made their debut on the 1973 album Air Cut. "The Purple Speed Queen" kicks off the album, propelled by Jobson's heavy organ and Gregory's up-in-the-mix guitar runs. "Elfin Boy" is a stark contrast: a gentle folk number with Kristina's voice to the fore. Yet it's the appreciably heavy rock of the lengthy Jobson-penned "Metamorphosis" that finally fulfills Curved Air's promise: full of Jobson's keyboard acrobatics, the song is veritable prog rock. For "Armin," Jobson switches to violin, again revealing his prodigious talent on the fiery instrumental; while Gregory steps out with some cool Leslie-effected guitar on his "U.H.F." The latter is a relatively straightforward guitar rock number, but with an odd yet effective break in the middle. Wedgwood steps up to the microphone on his "Two-Three-Two," revealing his pop sensibilities that would later grace Caravan. But the overwrought arrangement of the closing "Easy" reveals the album's weakness: The "over the top" sound here is simply way over the top. This would be the only release from the lineup, though another record would remain in the vault. The original Curved Air, with Kristina, Way, Monkman and Florian Pilkington-Miksa, reunited in late 1974 for a live album and tour, and thus managed to pay off an outstanding tax bill. Way and Kristina would then recruit new blood for their final two records, 1975's Midnight Wire and 1976's Airborne, both on RCA. Stewart Copeland, brother of manager Miles Copeland and future husband of Kristina, joined on drums, while Mick Jacques played guitar. However, without much success, Way split from the group in 1976; and after one final tour, the band broke up for good. Stewart would then join up with Gong alumnus Mike Howlett in the pre-Police Strontium 90.