I'm only a fan of the initial stuff, before they really got out there. I happen to like their first single Love Makes Sweet Music. Years ago, someone told me that the single with a picture sleeve sold for something like $1200-1400 on ebay
I own nearly everything by them that's been released, which is a fairly substantial lot of albums. The live material is so extensive and so good that there is virtually (pun not intended) no need to own any of the studio albums apart from the first two. Plus, the band had so many changes of personnel and style that it isn't all captured on the studio albums - you need the live stuff to get a complete picture of the band and experience the best that they had to offer.
I've given short shrift to their post-Wyatt output, but lately, I've been checking out the half live/half studio 6th and enjoying it quite a bit. It's getting to be more like traditional jazz-fusion by that point, but it's still eccentric enough to be distinctive. I think I need to take the plunge on the above mentioned original album set.
Love them, especially Ayers, I have his Joy Of A Toy, Shooting At The Moon & The Confessions Of Dr Dream on LP & his Whatevershebringswesing album on CD. I also have Robert Wyatt's Rock Bottom on CD. By the Soft Machine I have Volume 2 (my favorite), Fourth & Seven all on LP. My top 3 basically. I also have an orig US Joy Of A Toy/Why Are We Sleeping? 45
It took a lot of spinning before I got into the first one. But then WOW what a music. After nearly 50 years I still enjoy listening to it every now and then. It's complex and also accessible with great melodies (A Certain Kind). Fantastic drumming by Robert Wyatt. Number Two was also hard to get into. Gradually I came to like it, but never as much as the first one. The following albums I've never listened to.
You're missing out on a ton of great music. SM Vol 2 is brilliant. I think it beats the debut for me. Anyone heard about the new Soft Machine studio album coming out?
The first one has that open sound. A lot of room around the instruments and vocals. At least if listening by speakers, through headphones it becomes too much and falls apart.
THere are some great live sets from the US in 68. I wish there was something around with Andy Summers on guitar the improvised raga sound I've heard described sounded interesting. & the offshoot bands werea all pretty good, at least from the original line up. Whole Wide World are presumably the least sung of those. Could get pretty out in places Wish I'd picked up Gong Dreaming Volume One as well as volume 2 which covers Daevid Allen's Gong era quite well. Not sure what depth Volume oNe covers the Soft Machine era. Also presumably covers, beatnikery and other travels. Robert Wyatt's solo stuf is pretty great. Matching Mole in expanded form, Rock Bottom . Shame about the accident in between. & The drury lane set is worth hearing if you're into that stuff. I like the early Nucleus stuff and was wondering if there is much difference in approach between that and them being the main force operating under the name Soft machine towards the end. But would rather think of Soft machine as Mike Rattledge, Robert Wyatt at least. 1st lp is about my favourite , do like the singles with Allen on board too.
It's been a while but I did not think it was awful, a bit dated in production terms yes. It's Soft Machine just buy it kick back and enjoy.
Soft Machine are one of those bands I should have listened to years ago but for one reason or another they've always passed me by, I've recently been listening to Gong & Hatfield & The North for the first time in ages & have since been moved to purchase a couple of "National Health" CD's (not yet arrived) & the Soft Machine Vols 1 & 2 twofer (just arrived), very much looking forward to exploring them
I have the Elastic Rock/We'll Talk About It Later twofer CD from Nucleus. Some similarity with Six/Seven era Soft Machine along with a fair amount of In A Silent Way/Bitches Brew era Miles. Worth tracking down if you like those artists.
I spotted that this went up on YouTube last month so I watched it last night & it's amazing, Holdsworth really destroying planets in this performance, apparently it's the earliest known footage of him playing. I do wonder if him & John McLaughlin met backstage at this festival, the people in attendance were certainly treated to some of the greatest guitar playing of all time there.
Andrew Tulloch "Mastering Engineer" strikes again. This band deserves better. Log foobar2000 1.3.17 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2018-09-29 18:17:57 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Soft Machine / Hidden Details -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR9 -0.31 dB -10.37 dB 7:36 01-Hidden Details DR8 -0.32 dB -10.80 dB 5:00 02-The Man Who Waved At Trains DR7 -0.32 dB -11.38 dB 5:21 03-Ground Lift DR8 -2.11 dB -13.35 dB 2:30 04-Heart Off Guard DR9 -0.39 dB -11.87 dB 3:49 05-Broken Hill DR10 -0.32 dB -14.37 dB 2:12 06-Flight Of The Jett DR10 -0.32 dB -10.87 dB 4:30 07-One Glove DR10 -2.29 dB -16.85 dB 2:41 08-Out Bloody Intro DR9 -0.33 dB -10.88 dB 4:56 09-Out Bloody Rageous (Part 1) DR11 -3.45 dB -19.10 dB 1:48 10-Drifting White DR10 -0.32 dB -11.69 dB 8:05 11-Life On Bridges DR9 -0.32 dB -10.16 dB 6:24 12-Fourteen Hour Dream DR10 -1.01 dB -14.10 dB 5:05 13-Breathe --------------------------------------
I just watched this performance at Iridium in NYC. Free webcast. I think it's awesome. I'm really glad these guys are ready, able and willing to play this music as Soft Machine. The performance I thought was great. The picture and sound both fine. I'm going to check out the new release real soon. Those DR numbers are kinda scary but they don't always mean the worst. The young guy here could be someone's grandpa and the others could all be great grandfathers! lol John Marshall looks a little wobbly walking across the stage but he plays fine. I wish I had that kind of energy.
