BUNDLES

This is one of my favourite Soft Machine records and IMHO their last good record.In the two years since 'Seven' the Quartet has become a Quintet by integrating Alan Holdsworth on guitar. Most of the tracks are composed by Jenkins and on this record there is a good equilibrium between the gentler side of Jenkins' compositions and the powerful playing of Holdsworth,Marshall and Babbington. The first side starts with a long suite 'Hazard Profile' , which is based on an older composition, Jenkins did for Nucleus ( 'Song for the bearded lady'). 'Gone sailing ' a short Holdsworth acoustic guitar solo ends Side One. Side 2 starts with the title track, another Jenkins composition, followed by a second Holdsworth composition 'Land of the bag snake' . Mike Ratledge is only present with one composition in two parts 'the man who waved at trains/ Peff ' with an interesting bassline.' Four Gongs two drums' is a John Marshall solo and the records ends with a another Jenkins composition 'the floating world' a minimal piece with a beautiful melody.