CURVED AIR LIVE

On its early studio LPs this major group seldom wanted for top-notch material. Its problem rather was weak production and consequently a lack of energy in the sound. All forgiven and forgotten here as the listener is blown against the wall from the opening bar onwards by these sonically pristine and butt-kicking performances from the '74 reunion tour. This was obviously more than just a cash-in exercise as they all quite simply play like there's no tomorrow. The Way/Monkman front line dazzles in its virtuosity and attack while Kristina's vocal transformation from fey to feral is possibly the biggest surprise of all. Like 'Genesis Live' the epics are passed over due to time constraint but previously anaemic-sounding gems such as 'Young Mother' and 'Propositions' are given extended, aggressive and mesmerizing new life. These are for me the definitive versions.