Phantasmagoria

Phantasmagoria

Track Listings

 
1. Hi!
2. All the Things You Are
3. Maybe Angry
4. Grieving
5. Phantasmagoria
6. Out of Nowhere
7. Into Wishin'
8. At the Dance
9. Unbearable Longing
10. Sudden Clarity
11. All of Me
12. Magical
13. Lovin' This Thing Called Love

Phantasmagoria,Liz Gorrill & Andy Fite,The Orchard,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop

Jazz

Music

jazz

music
Phantasmagoria
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Happy Damned Fan
  • Like others have said
  • Not punk, but still enjoyable
  • Goth done...who knows?
  • Loved it from the day I first heard it
Phantasmagoria
The Damned
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GothGoth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
PunkPunk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
British PunkBritish Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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  1. Strawberries
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  3. Damned Damned Damned
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  5. Collection

ASIN: B000007U02
Release Date: 1994-11-08

Tracks:

  1. Street of Dreams
  2. Shadow of Love
  3. There'll Come a Day
  4. Sanctum Sanctorum
  5. Is It a Dream?
  6. Grimly Fiendish
  7. Edward the Bear
  8. Eight Day
  9. Trojans
  10. Grimly Fiendish [The Bad Trip Mix][*]
  11. Shadow of Love [10'' of Hell Mix][*]

Album Description

1985 album for the British punk legend's. Nine tracks Including the classics 'Grimly Fiendish' and 'Is It a Dream'. Produced by the band with Bob Sargeant (Buzzcocks). Plus 2 Wicked Editions bonus tracks 'Grimly Fiendish (Bad Trip Mix)' & 'The Shadow Of Love (Ten Inches Of Hell Mix)'. 1985 release. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

The First Album from the Former Punk Legends Without Longtime Member Captain Sensible. More of a Gothic Rock Direction for Rat Scabies and Co., With "Grimly Fiendish" Garnering the Greatest Amount of Attention. Includes Two Bonus Tracks, Remixes of "Grimly Fiendish" and "Shadow of Love".

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Happy Damned Fan.......2007-05-13

I am vey happy now that I have aquired this c.d.after a long time looking elswhere.

5 out of 5 stars Like others have said.......2007-03-05

This is the damned go goth. It is not entirely successful. But, it is not entirely a waste. The damned had come full circle at this point. Captain sensible had his number 1 hit and the damned seemed to be less punk visionaries then fashion victims. Phantasmagoria is less a theme than an acurate description. Where do you go from punk? What do you rebel against when the world you protested against accepts you? You become what is feared at the moment. Goth was feared backin the 80's. By radio and MTV. It was a rejection of standards if you will. So the first punk band EVER rejected those standards. They quit one album after this (at least they did before the reunion tours and the sad reunion albums) This is the second to last REAL albums from punk gods trying to be realivant. Part of it is part of it isn't. We woulnd't have goth bands at all if they had remained silent. So piss off detractors.

4 out of 5 stars Not punk, but still enjoyable.......2006-05-18

I you're used to the original punk Damned music you might be disappointed, but if you are willing to listen to something a little gothier and can still enjoy Dave Vanian's gorgeous voice you might want to check this one out. It is a slow, melodic, very full-bodied musical album with a little gothier tone than the orginal Damned. But at the same token, I don't find this album a downer or too slow to enjoy. It is best listened to as back-ground music. As with most Damend albums, the lyrics are a little annoyingly shallow and silly (so don't listen too hard), but Dave still sounds great and the music is well put together, like always. I am a pretty big early punk fan, but I still enjoy this album, although it's not for everyone.

4 out of 5 stars Goth done...who knows?.......2006-04-29

So, they would save the ultimate cheesetasticalness for Anything, which even the most devoted Damned fan probably couldn't sit throught without cringing.

Phantasmagoria sets up ubergoth with kitschy pop songs and melodramatic instrumentals (with "Sanctum Santorium" being the zenith of dramatics). It seems like they are poking fun at themselves in some songs and their appearance, giving in to Dave Vanian's wannabe vampire image (did he get fang implants or are they just removable caps?).

Anyway, for the first video they did, "Grimly Fiendish", all of the Damned members are wearing late 1700 puffy shirt (always reminds me of that 'Seinfeld' episode) and coats in a dirty alleyway sort of setup. In their live tv performances, only Roman Jugg seems to be comfortable in those clothes, while Brynn Merrick and Rat Scabies ditch the garbs for their own clothes. Why am I talking about what they are wearing, and why should anyone care? I get the feeling that it was the record company's idea to market them as a great new wave/goth band and wanting to get far away from their disruptive punk days. ANd it worked. They would hit the charts with Grimly Fiendish and early the next year with "Eloise", which they performed about a millions times or more just in that year alone. And it doesn't help the fact that on their video promo release "Light at The End of the Tunnel", we go from the video for their great punk anthem "Smash It Up" to "Grimly Fiendish", a poppy happy little ditty that seems out of place. You need some sort of footage from The Black album to Strawberries to fill in the gap. But i'm going way over my head here, this is a review for "Phantasmagoria".

I don't mean to sound cynical about this album, I do enjoy it. Some of great songs on here are Street of Dreams, Shadow of Love and There'll Come A Day. If you are a hardcore fan of their punk days and too elitist to think otherwise, maybe this album isn't for you. If you want to be curious about this album, buy it. Really, you'll enjoy it, it might take some time, but it is a good one.

5 out of 5 stars Loved it from the day I first heard it.......2006-02-25

I remember listening to this at secondary school in the 80's I loved it then and I still love it now. If you want a great Damned album this is it.
Phantasmagoria
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Life Begins in a Thousand Years
  • Haunting Classic
  • The air is always curved if you choose to see it
  • An excellent Curved Air album
  • Wonderful third album from Curved Air
Phantasmagoria
Curved Air
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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  1. Second Album
  2. Air Conditioning
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  5. Airborne

ASIN: B0000584US
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Tracks:

  1. Marie Antoinette
  2. Melinda (More Or Less)
  3. Not Quite The Same
  4. Cheetah
  5. Ultra-Vivaldi
  6. Phantasmagoria
  7. Whose Shoulder Are You Looking Over Anyway
  8. Over And Above
  9. Once Always A Ghost

Product Description

1. Marie Antoinette
2. Melinda (More Or Less)
3. Not Quite The Same
4. Cheetah
5. Ultra Vivaldi
6. Phantasmagoria
7. Whose Shoulder Are You Looking Over
8. Over And Above
9. Once A Ghost, Always A Ghost


Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Life Begins in a Thousand Years.......2007-03-18

The journey of discovering the sweetness of Curved Air was slow motion for me. I heard bits of "Over and Above" on an AM radio station in Dallas around 1973 and was hooked. Now that I've listened to the song more closely, it's easy to understand why: An alluring Avante Garde intro, great arrangement with xylophone, violin, horns and rather spooky albeit beautiful vocal harmonies, long jazzy solos with vibraphone and synth keyboards... Unfortunately, the DJ got the name of the group wrong and my quest for the album ended in disappointment. The song stuck with me though and on a whim I recently entered the one lyric I'd remembered into a search engine ("life begins in a thousand years ") and scoured through the links. One of them was a web site dedicated to the somewhat obscure psychedelic art-rock band, Curved Air. When I heard an excerpt of the track I'd heard 33 years earlier, it was like turning the key to a door that opened into another world. Even after decades, the music stands distinctly on it's own, offering a remarkable experience for all who would listen. I'm really glad this CD is available! :-)



(Techno-Nerd Suggestion: If you are so inclined, you can use a parametric EQ to reduce low end at around 100Hz to effect a more balanced bass. Not every song will require the same equalization, so use your ear!)

5 out of 5 stars Haunting Classic.......2005-10-27

This is a great album. It has a supernatural atmosphere to it that makes it different from anything else I've ever heard. Done a little differently, this would not be my cup of tea, however, the way they execute the music sold me from the first strains of Mary Antonette. It is mood music, to be sure, and it is certainly not heavy. However, it is great music and brings back memories of Spain in the early seventies. I think despite the rather primitive electronics (by today's standards, maybe) this album would do well today. Then again, it is probably not bland enough to be a hit album! Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars The air is always curved if you choose to see it.......2005-09-15

The third album follows the tradition with some refinement. Born from the British group Sisyphus in 1968, the core of Frances Monkman (Guitar), Florian Pilkington-Miksa (Drums) and Rob Martin (Bass) met up with another visionary, Darryl Way (Violin, Keyboards) to form Curved Air. Very shortly, they were joined by Acoustic Guitarist/Singer Sonja Kristina. A milestone in the Progressive/Folk Rock genre had surfaced from the psychedelic mold, and Curved Air was still making mega-leaps in song construction and complexity. Personnel change for this album brought Mike Wedgewood in as Bassist. From the beautiful Marie Antoinette to the straightforward pop tune Phantasmagoria to relentless Cheetah, the quality just kept coming. The complexity and continuous changes in tone and beat set the mark for other Prog Rock groups to emulate in songs like Over and Above with its multiple layers of sound. More electronic and synth experimentation on this album than the others - Ultra Vivaldi and Who's Shoulder Are You Looking Over Anyway? - Highly recommended, of course.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent Curved Air album.......2004-12-14

I am not quite sure why it took me so long to "come around" to Curved Air - this is fantastic English progressive rock that holds a great deal of interest for me. Released in 1972, Phantasmagoria comes close to the glory of their debut album and is probably their most musically involved and "proggy". After this album, the band pretty much fell apart leaving only lead vocalist Sonja Kristina and bassist Mike Wedgewood to carry on with the Aircut album (1973).

The musicians on Phantasmagoria include Sonja Kristina (lead vocals; acoustic guitar); Darryl Way (violin; piano); Francis Monkman (guitar; Hammond organ; synthesizers; mellotron); Mike Wedgewood (electric bass; backing vocals); and Florian Pilkington-Miksa (drums and percussion). Guest musicians include Frank Ricotti (xylophone and vibes) and several horn players that are not credited. All of the band members are fantastic and some even received formal musical training at the Royal College of Music (Daryl). I think however, that I appreciate the lead vocals of Sonja the most. After all, women in progressive rock were a rarity and it is a real treat to hear Sonja's light and airy vocal style in this context.

Musically, this is full blown progressive rock that mixes classical, rock, and experimental approaches together. There are also some delicate moments too, which is especially evident in Sonja's delicate and haunting tune Melinda (More or Less). Francis Monkman's brief instrumental ode to Vivaldi is also interesting and was played entirely on synthesizers. Darryl Way also has an instrumental piece that features the violin as a solo instrument with excellent accompaniment by the entire band. The centerpiece of the album however is the 19'29" epic, four part Phantasmagoria suite which was written largely by Francis Monkman with contributions by Sonja. This is a decent large-scale composition that boasts some exceptionally intricate time signatures and fantastic ensemble playing. There are some psychedelic experimental passages here and there that really add a lot to the suite.

This CD reissue by Collector's Choice Music is just OK and has a few informative liner notes that discuss some historical tidbits, along with specifics about the Phantasmagoria album itself.

All in all, this is another great album of progressive rock by Curved Air that is highly recommended along with Air Conditioning (1970); and Second Album (1971).

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful third album from Curved Air.......2004-10-14

This is without a doubt the most elaborate album Curved Air had released at that point. Here the band included strings and horns to their music. The band had problems keeping bass players too, they were now to their third bassist, Mike Wedgwood, who would later be a short-time member of Caravan (for the album Cunning Stunts and Blind Dog at St. Dunstans). Phantasmagoria was basically the final album with the original lineup (more or less, save the bassist, of course). The first couple of songs are not too far off from Second Album, like "Marie Antoinette" and "Melinda (More or Less)", both stunning ballads, the former obviously dealing with Marie Antoinette who was beheaded during the French Revolution. These two songs are no doubt enhanced by the vocals of Sonja Kristina, who without a doubt became quickly one of my favorite female vocalist. "Not Quite the Same" features lyrics that I am unable to mention here. "Cheetah" is an instrumental piece dominated by Darryl Way's violin, while "Ultra-Vivaldi" was obviously Francis Monkman doing Vivaldi on the VCS-3 synthesizer (although the band did explore Vivaldi on Air Conditioning, their debut, so this wasn't exactly new for the band). The second half of the album finds the band being more experimental. "Whose Shoulder Are You Locking" is a strange, Francis Monkman electronic experiment with what sounds like Sonja Kristina speaking through a vocoder (I understand this involved some sort of computer and someone who worked for Electronic Music Studios, the company responsible for the VCS-3/Synthi "A" synthesizers, as well as later on, vocoders). I am not totally clear on how this experiment worked. "Over and Above" finds the band going even further in jazzier territory, with vibraphones and xylophones, horns, strings, passages that at times might remind you of Zappa or Gentle Giant, as well as tons of cool jazzy passages dominated by vibes. "Once a Ghost Always a Ghost" continues in Curved Air fashion, with lots of horns with a quirky bent. Although their previous album (Second Album) is easier to get in to, Phantasmagoria proves that Curved Air was a band deserving just as much attention as their prog contemporaries like Yes or ELP (although Curved Air did received moderate UK success). Wonderful album that's truly essential.
Phantasmagoria
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Careful...
Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria
Manufacturer: Ntt Publishing
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00066VUVG
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Tracks:

  1. Intencity
  2. Side Show
  3. Yokefellow
  4. Sea Jack
  5. Bones
  6. Walk to the Space Island
  7. Chan and Chin
  8. Seven Beats to Heaven
  9. Baby Chicken
  10. Junky Monkey
  11. Are You Chinese or Japanese?
  12. Ma-N-Chi
  13. Super Jetter
  14. Matchless Beauty

Album Description

Japan pressing. Universal. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Careful..........2006-09-29

This item is named "Phantasmagoria" and not by the visual vei group of the same name. I recently ordered this and thought I would add this info on here.
John Corigliano: Phantasmagoria; To Music; Fantasia on an Ostinato; Three Hallucinations
Average customer rating: Not rated
    John Corigliano: Phantasmagoria; To Music; Fantasia on an Ostinato; Three Hallucinations

    Manufacturer: Ondine
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by CoriglianoAll Works by Corigliano | Corigliano, John | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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    2. Phantasmagoria: Music of John Corigliano
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    4. 3 Hallucinations (from Altered States): Study Score No. 157
    5. Concerto Grossi 1-5 (Dig)

    ASIN: B0009A4142
    Release Date: 2005-06-21

    Tracks:

    1. Phantasmagoria
    2. To Music
    3. Fantasia On An Ostinato
    4. Sacrifice
    5. Hymn
    6. Ritual
    Phantasmagoria: Music of John Corigliano
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • the fantastic four
    • Great performances of generally subdued pieces
    Phantasmagoria: Music of John Corigliano

    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    4. John Corigliano: Phantasmagoria; To Music; Fantasia on an Ostinato; Three Hallucinations
    5. John Corigliano: Creations And Other Works

    ASIN: B00004Z3PT
    Release Date: 2000-10-03

    Tracks:

    1. Fancy On A Bach Air - Yo-Yo Ma
    2. Fant On An Ostinato - Emanuel Ax
    3. Etude Fant: I. For The Left Hand Alone
    4. Etude Fant: II. Legato
    5. Etude Fant: III. Fifths To Thirds
    6. Etude Fant: IV. Ornaments
    7. Etude Fant: V. Melody
    8. Phantasmagoria - Yo-Yo Ma/Emanuel Ax

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars the fantastic four.......2006-12-30

    these days when i'm talking with someone about music i enjoy, i find it a whole lot easier to toss out names than genres, like classical or european concert, and by a mutual listing of names form a sense of what we have in common which leads to a respect of suggestions. such a conversation lead to my first listening to john corigliano, and returning for a second purchase of one of his recordings, this one, also prompted by the iconic name yo-yo ma. i'll listen to just about any piece of music listing his name.

    the linear notes on phantasmogoria serve as a guideline for a deeper exploration of a fantasia. part of the definition of fantasia included in the notes reads 'fanciful, irregular composition not cast in strict form'.

    a lot of what i listen to can fall under the category 'irregular'. music for me must serve double-duty. it has to be something, when i have time, i can sit down and listen to as a complex composition, and corigliano's notes provide that guideline, particularly helpful since i'm out of my league when it comes to understanding 'classical' music on a sophisicated, learned level, i listen to what i like, and i like what i hear on this recording, the learing process comes later, that is, if i care to learn about why i like what i like, which isn't necessary. music plays nearly constantly in my house, so as i'm involved in activities and non-activities around the house, the music has to be pleasing, whether at any moment i've aware of it or not, and i appreciate surprises, musical notes that startled and delight in a piece of music i've heard over and over again. example, listening to the title piece, phantasmagoria, during the christmas season, and hearing four sharp notes, and stopping whatever i'm doing, recognizing 'joy to the world', and maybe that was the 'tristan chord', but it sounded to me like 'joy to the world'. so i'll have to listen to wagner's opera again, and listen for the tristan chord.

    corigliano also describes his phantasmogoria as ghost music. that requires another sitting for me some day.

    4 out of 5 stars Great performances of generally subdued pieces.......2000-11-19

    John Corigliano may be best known for his First Symphony and his Clarinet Concerto, both terrific and dramatic works--the First Symphony is a programmatic work dedicated to those who have died of AIDS. On a CD titled Phantasmagoria you might expect similar dramatic flights of fantasy, excursions into the bizarre and unexpected. But this CD is for the most part very subdued, even though the common link to the four pieces presented is fantasy. The first work, Fancy on a Bach Air for solo cello, is impeccably performed by Yo-yo Ma, whose gorgeous and intense tone quality keeps an extremely introspective piece interesting--I'd not like to hear this performed by a lesser player. In the liner notes Corigliano presents a moving story of the creation of the piece--it was originally intended as a wedding anniversary present for his friends Robert and Judy Goldberg. Their surname lead him to take the theme from J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations as material; but Robert's death lead to a reconsideration of the work. There is no breastbeating, agonised sorrow in this piece--instead, it is a very slowly paced and subtle hommage to his friend. Corigliano's craftsmanship is impeccable; he is the son of the former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic and has been around art music all his life; clearly he is capable of great expressive extremes. The second work on the CD is his Fantasia on an Ostinato, based on the theme of the slow movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, and it also is primarily slow--not at all an effective follower of the first piece. Here Corigliano experiments with some techniques of minimalism. The piece starts and stops over and over, and there is an enormous amount of repetition. Once the piece establishes itself, some six minutes into a 12 minute work, there are some beautiful moments and Emanuel Ax performs up to his usual superb standard. Corigliano's five movement Etude Fantasy for solo piano follows, and finally there is some significant dramatic contrast. James Tocco launches into this piece with all the bravura it deserves and delivers a stunningly forceful performance. This piece is an etude in the true sense of the word, in that each movement is designed around a specific technical problem, and yet each movement is also emotionally and dramatically satisfying. But the second movement reverts so soon to the subdued world of the rest of the disc, and the final movement, also quite slow, brings back some of the repetitious ideas of the previous piece in a way that simply invites tedium. The final work is the Phantasmagoria for cello and piano, played by Ma and Ax, which also begins slowly! This work is based on music from Corigliano's opera, The Ghosts of Versailles. This is the most truly "fantastic" piece here, with hauntingly beautiful timbres from the cello, fragments and allusions to classical opera, and abrupt changes in character, tempi, and dynamics. These last two works are the real meat of the CD, but I feel that the programming of the first two works, in the order presented, does them a disservice. But the performances alone justify the purchase of this CD; I'd simply suggest not listening to it at a single sitting.
    Born in America 1938
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Mostly introspective modern American music for cello
    Born in America 1938

    Manufacturer: Gasparo Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Bolcom, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by CoriglianoAll Works by Corigliano | Corigliano, John | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by TowerAll Works by Tower | Tower, Joan | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B00005YDKR
    Release Date: 2002-01-29

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Mostly introspective modern American music for cello.......2004-09-28

    The premise behind this CD is an interesting one; take 6 mostly well-known American composers born in the same year and record their music for cello and piano. You might think, America being such a big place and there being such a diverse range of musical styles operative there, that you'd get a wildly eclectic collection. But all the composers included, with one exception, represent the same sort of aesthetic; a sort of pandiatonic approach that is mostly introspective. The exception, of course, is wild man William Bolcom, who really is eclectic, and his piece shines by comparison--in this one piece there's more variety than in the rest of the CD. Also of note is a composition by Ellsworth Milburn--a composer with whom I was unfamilar. Milburn taught composition at Rice University in Houston, a school known for some time as a bastion of serialism; but his Character Pieces show none of that influence. They're charming works, with a great sense of color and flair. The works by Wourinen, Tower, and Corigliano are all good, but so similar that the programming doesn't really do them service. How I'd have loved to hear a work by Paul Chihara, one of my favorite totally obscure composers; he's mentioned in the notes as being born in 1938 but lacking a piece for cello and piano.

    Norman Fischer and Jeanne Kierman, the Fischer Duo, play superbly. Even if I do fault their programming, I can't fault their performance.
    Phantasmagoria
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Hookah-Smokin' Caterpillar Said It All
    • musical ingenuity
    • a connection between J S Bach and Robert Fripp
    • Little frizzy clouds
    Phantasmagoria
    Curved Air
    Manufacturer: Wea International
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B00000885I
    Release Date: 1998-12-08

    Tracks:

    1. Marie Antoinette
    2. Melinda (More or Less)
    3. Not Quite the Same
    4. Cheetah
    5. Ultra-Vivaldi
    6. Phantasmagoria
    7. Whose Shoulder Are You Looking over Anyway?
    8. Over and Above
    9. Once a Ghost, Always a Ghost

    Album Description

    The band's 1972 album for Warner Brothers. Features nine tracks, including 'Marie Antoinette' and 'Cheetah'.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Hookah-Smokin' Caterpillar Said It All.......2006-06-27

    The ALICE IN WONDERLAND inspired cover illustration and the title of this strange and wonderful record are pretty good clues as to what lies within. Some rock fans didn't like this so much and seem to prefer the more conventional approach that this group began to take on later albums. My own assessment is that this was the last (mostly) solid effort by the group. "Ultra-Vivaldi" hasn't aged well (other classically inspired synth wizards, like Wendy Carlos, did this sort of thing much better), but otherwise, this CD will take the willing listener on a mind-bending trip. There's a lot of variety here, from the odd and mysterious ("Whose Shoulder Are You Looking Over Anyway;" which wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to have been the inspiration for Imogen Heap's haunting "Hide And Seek") to the atmospheric and beautiful ("Melinda More Or Less," one of the group's finest melodies and arrangements) to pulsing and driving ("Marie Antoinette," "Over And Above"). If you like AIR CONDITIONING and SECOND ALBUM, you will probably enjoy this, too.

    4 out of 5 stars musical ingenuity.......2005-09-14

    Curved Air is just one of those bands from the seventies that must be remembered for their musical ingenuity. They experimented with everything they could lay their hands on. And it resulted in some brilliant lp's. Fortunately we have their records on cd now.

    5 out of 5 stars a connection between J S Bach and Robert Fripp.......2000-07-29

    When listening to this, the final album made by the first incarnation of Curved Air, it's important to remember that it was made in 1972: sound technology has improved incredibly since then. It's a very experimental album, that also has a fair amount of humour. Ultra-Vivaldi, on the original vinyl, was the last track on side one, and its final drone ran on into the lift-out groove, so it repeated indefinitely. Listen carefully to the words of "Not Quite the Same"...

    Most experimental track is "Whose Shoulder..." which consists solely of Sonja Kristina's voice reciting an excerpt from a Lewis Carroll poem. Her voice is run through various synthesisers, cut up and distorted, making a perfect bridge between the precision-pop of the title track and the thunder of "Over and Above" which features a number of extra musicians. These three tracks make up the core of the record, a fifteen minute suite which on the original vinyl was presented as a single track.

    As a result of enjoying Phantasmagoria I went on to discover both baroque chamber music (via the harpsichord on "Melinda")and ambient and experimental music (via "Whose Shoulder...") - there aren't many records that are capable of pushing someone in such disparate directions!

    3 out of 5 stars Little frizzy clouds.......2000-03-28

    Just as its predecessor "Second album", "Phanta" is a sometimes bland and pale affair. It misses both the rock edge of their debut "Air conditioning" and the pop sensibility of songs like "Back street luv" that made "Second album" listenable. There's actually not much resemblance to prog-rock, and I'd rather describe the sound of "Phanta" as a mix of new age, folk, and neo-classical tendencies. However, the first three songs are nice and there are many good ideas, but it's often poorly executed. "Marie Antoinette" is one of this band's best songs, both lyrically and musically. The dreamy "Melinda" is wonderful, and "Not quite the same" is lovely pop fluff. After this, "Phanta" pales rapidly. The track "Ultra-Vivaldi", featuring a Vivaldi tune played on a squeaky synthesizer, is horrible. The second half of this album is very lame and uninspired, and there's no decent melody and structure. Probably recorded during a drug-flooded jam session. Fortunately, Curved Air experienced a creative rebirth with 1973's "Air cut" (still unavailable on CD) and a stronger focus on progressive elements, while 1975's "Midnight wire" came up with a streamlined, more accessible jazz-rock sound.
    Phantasmagoria
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Phantasmagoria
      Curved Air
      Manufacturer: Wea Japan
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
      Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
      Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000NDIAHO
      Release Date: 2007-05-07

      Tracks:

      1. Marie Antoinette
      2. Melinda (More or Less)
      3. Not Quite the Same
      4. Cheetah
      5. Ultra-Vivaldi
      6. Phantasmagoria
      7. Whose Shoulder Are You Looking over Anyway?
      8. Over and Above
      9. Once a Ghost, Always a Ghost

      Album Details

      Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
      Phantasmagoria
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Phantasmagoria
        The Damned
        Manufacturer: Universal Japan
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GothGoth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
        PunkPunk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
        BritainBritain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B000PDZOX0
        Release Date: 2007-07-09

        Tracks:

        1. Street Of Dreams
        2. Shadow Of Love
        3. There'll Come A Day
        4. Sanctum Sanctorum
        5. Is It A Dream
        6. Grimly Fiendish
        7. Edward The Bear
        8. Eighth Day
        9. Trojans
        10. Grimly Fiendish-The Bad Trip Mix (Bonus Track)
        11. Shadow Of Love-10 Inches Of Hell Mix,The (Bonus Track)

        Album Details

        Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
        Thomas Stacy, Principal English Horn, New York Philharmonic
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Thomas Stacy, Principal English Horn, New York Philharmonic

          Manufacturer: Cala Records
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          PavanesPavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
          Ravel, MauriceRavel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
          English HornEnglish Horn | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
          OboeOboe | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
          ASIN: B00002R2Q3
          Release Date: 2006-10-26

          Jazz Music:

          1. Points of View
          2. Quadrant
          3. Recuerdo
          4. Skol
          5. Skol
          6. Slam Bam
          7. Solos
          8. Sonny Rollins, Vol. 2
          9. Summer Time [Import]
          10. Swing Not Spring [Import] [Original recording remastered]

          Jazz Music

          jazz music