PHANTASMAGORIA

Representing a clear improvement over the band's first two albums, Phantasmagoria represents the first time that the band managed to combine high-quality songs (which I felt were lacking from Second Album) with decent production values (the sound quality of most versions of Airconditioning is notoriously poor). Showing an impressive range - Melinda (More or Less) is a gorgeous slice of chanteuse pop, whilst Over and Above is a complex percussion-oriented piece with plenty of vibraphone, which at parts sounds almost like the Mothers of Invention - the album is the best of Curved Air's first three albums. It even has, in the form of "Ultra Vivaldi", a superior version of the classical adaptation "Vivaldi" from the debut. I'd say it's probably the best place to start an exploration of the band's work.