SEVEN

After not much successful Six album, another Soft Machine's founding member bassist Hopper left the band,he was changed by Roy Babbington who played with band some years as guest musician.With such line-up (only one founding member keyboardist Mike Ratledge stayed on board), band's musical direction was changed even more radically towards straightforward flat fusion.

Sax player Karl Jenkins became more influential building musical strategy,and in fact he is a new band's leader for now. Mike Ratledge uses synthesizers for a first time in band's history on this album,all these changes influenced album's music a lot.

It's almost impossible to compare music of Seven with band's compositions from "classic" fusion period (Third or Fourth). They sound just as two different bands. It doesn't mean Seven is bad album - well composed,structured and played,this album contains some really good compositions, but you will hardly find free jazz flavor or great interplays. Music there is framed between compositional, arrangement and soloing rules without much space for freedom and fantasy.Musicians are still great and album sounds pleasant and easy accessible,just the spirit of real Soft Machine is gone without traces.

Far from Soft Machine's best release,still competent transitional work.