SOFT MACHINE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Softs marked a pivotal moment in Soft Machine's evolution, departing from their experimental roots towards a refined jazz fusion sound. Following Bundles in 1975, this album found the group embracing a more structured approach while still delivering intricate and dynamic compositions. Keyboardist Karl Jenkins takes a more prominent role, with his compositions blending beautifully with John Etheridge's fiery guitar and Alan Wakeman's expressive saxophone. Highlights include the energetic 'The Tale of Taliesin', featuring a blistering guitar solo, and 'Ban-Ban Caliban', where the band's fusion of synths and sax creates a rich, textured sound. The album also includes softer moments like 'Song of Aeolus' and the piano-acoustic guitar duet in 'Out of Season', offering a contrast to the intensity of the faster tracks. Drummer John Marshall shines with a powerful solo in 'Kayoo' and the album concludes with Etheridge's gentle acoustic piece 'Etka'. While Softs diverges from the classic Soft Machine style, it stands as a strong jazz fusion album with undeniable charm. It's an excellent listen for fans of the genre, though some purists may find it a departure from the band's psychedelic roots.

Review: In 1969 Soft Machine were truly growing into the otherworldly entity they're best known as now, moving on from the more psychedelia-rooted sound of the debut album into the broader expanse presented on Volume Two. This live recording captures them in full flight at the legendary Bataclan in Paris, and the wild creative vision of Robert Wyatt's merry pranksters splays out from the ominous drum intro onwards, through towering crescendos of musicality that touch on noticeable album moments such as the 'Esther's Nose Job' suite from Volume Two to 'Moon In June', which would be released one year later on Third.