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VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2008 at 20:50
Ratledge's playing style certainly is unique, that's for sure.  I know everyone loves the first two Softs albums, but for me, when Elton Dean arrived, Ratledge just improved in leaps and bounds.  He used to play off-of Dean's sax lines amazingly well.  Infact, his playing often reminded me of a saxophone.
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 10:39
Agreed - his greatness to me is that he brings such a variety of sounds and textures to the music - it's like having several musicians wrapped up in one.
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 10:55
If you like post-Third era Soft Machine, then try the following too:

Elton Dean & The Wrong Object - The Unbelievable Truth (an absolute stunning live gig, unrehearsed and the first and last time they played together)
Hughscore - Delta Flora (for a wonderful modern rendition of Facelift) and Highspot Paradox (which features a version of Hugh Hopper's Miniluv).  Both albums feature Hugh Hopper on fuss and not-fuzz bass too.  Brilliant records!
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Points: 12813 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 11:22
Originally posted by James James wrote:

Ratledge's playing style certainly is unique, that's for sure.  I know everyone loves the first two Softs albums, but for me, when Elton Dean arrived, Ratledge just improved in leaps and bounds.  He used to play off-of Dean's sax lines amazingly well.  Infact, his playing often reminded me of a saxophone.
 
I was stunned to hear how advanced Ratledge sounded on the 1967 Soft Machine recording Middle Earth Tapes (released by Cuneiform two years ago) - certainly miles ahead of Keith Emerson. Also impressed by Ratledge when he gets round to kicking in and kicking arse on the Soft Machine Live At Paradiso album (recorded two weeks after Volume 2 was recorded, sans Elton Dean)
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Points: 12813 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 11:28
Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:

Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:

The sign in my sig used to say "Hatfield and the North" at one point, then it was changed, I don't know why.  A forum member here used to live in Potter's Bar and remembers the original sign.

Do get Hatfield's s/t debut, in my opinion it's just as good as The Rotter's Club.
Potentiallly there is a lot mileage (that is wrt band names!!) to get out of M1 motorway signs. Here In the Midlands, for instance:
 
Leeds & The North or Leicester & The South
 
and then the M4: Reading And The West - (Maidenhead and The West.......)
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 11:29
I've got Middle Earth Masters on CD and still haven't played it and I plan to get that Paradiso release in the future.  I cannot wait (well, I have so far) to hear what he sounds like at that time in a live context.
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 11:31
Originally posted by Dick Heath Dick Heath wrote:

Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:

Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:

The sign in my sig used to say "Hatfield and the North" at one point, then it was changed, I don't know why.  A forum member here used to live in Potter's Bar and remembers the original sign.

Do get Hatfield's s/t debut, in my opinion it's just as good as The Rotter's Club.
Potentiallly there is a lot mileage (that is wrt band names!!) to get out of M1 motorway signs. Here In the Midlands, for instance:
 
Leeds & The North or Leicester & The South
 
and then the M4: Reading And The West - (Maidenhead and The West.......)


My brother has always wanted to call a band "Wt'n Only", after the painted on message at the Wootton Bassett roundabout.  W'tn in this case is Wroughton, not Wootton Bassett.
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 17:36
Just ordered Egg "The Polite Force" for a great price!  It's an outfit in Greece called http://lpcdreissues.com.
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Points: 7606 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2008 at 17:57
Geck0, I listened to Manna / Mirage again and it's max neato. I wish I'd been paying attention the last x-zillion times I tried. I still prefer those Italians, though - just showing that I don't ignore all your advice. =P
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2008 at 10:11
Try The Muffins' second release if you can find it.  It's completely different and avant-garde in comparison.

I'm glad you've seen the light!


Edited by James - March 04 2008 at 10:11
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Dick Heath View Drop Down
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Points: 12813 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 06:51
Originally posted by James James wrote:

I've got Middle Earth Masters on CD and still haven't played it and I plan to get that Paradiso release in the future.  I cannot wait (well, I have so far) to hear what he sounds like at that time in a live context.
 
be warned the sound quality on Middle Earth Masters  is poor, but on long tracks the recording mix  favours Ratledge keys - and when you hear Ratledge storming away on these tracks you will realise the album is an important history document wrt to the progression of rock music in the late 60's. In comparison Paradiso suggests it was deliberately recorded professionally with the intention of a proper release back in in 1970, but with Machine in hiatus between Volume 2 and Third, this recording seems to have become  forgotten and only available as a bootleg for a couple of decades.
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 07:55
Speaking of early Soft Machine, what is the quality like in regards to the two remasters of Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively?  I am very tempted in getting them to replace my 2-in-1 version of those two wonderful debut albums.
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Points: 1594 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 11:37
Originally posted by James James wrote:

I've got Middle Earth Masters on CD and still haven't played it and I plan to get that Paradiso release in the future.  I cannot wait (well, I have so far) to hear what he sounds like at that time in a live context.
 
Live at the Paradiso is an excellent album but may be a shock if you're used to the tracks in their Volume Two versions. Vindaloo for the ears!
"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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Points: 12813 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 13:33
Originally posted by James James wrote:

Speaking of early Soft Machine, what is the quality like in regards to the two remasters of Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively?  I am very tempted in getting them to replace my 2-in-1 version of those two wonderful debut albums.
 
Checking round the web:
a) can't confirm these are remasters
b) if they are remasters, no review states so, let alone mentions audio quality
c) the release date seems up to 2 months away?
d) Amazon.UK lists price seems to be the same number in sterling as CD Universe lists in US Dollars.
e) hey, yet somebody else providing the liner notes - who he???
Personally I found the (assumed) remastering of Soft Machine and Volume 2 tracks featured on the Out-Bloody-Rageous compilation much superior to that audio quality heard on the twoforone CD - but Soft Machine was literally recorded overnight during one of the Hendrix package tours of the USA and you can almost bet as cheaply as possible. I'll contact the Hopper brothers for more detail.
The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS.
CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php
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Points: 12813 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 13:40
Originally posted by A B Negative A B Negative wrote:

Originally posted by James James wrote:

I've got Middle Earth Masters on CD and still haven't played it and I plan to get that Paradiso release in the future.  I cannot wait (well, I have so far) to hear what he sounds like at that time in a live context.
 
Live at the Paradiso is an excellent album but may be a shock if you're used to the tracks in their Volume Two versions. Vindaloo for the ears!
 
Volume Two is to jazz rock fusion as Paradiso is to progressive rock. The change of track running order and the loss of Brian Hopper's sax (cf. the studio recording of these tunes) seem to me to contribute to more of a rock feel for the Paradiso recording  - although Machine are in much freer playing mode. Personally I think you hear both Robert Wyatt the drummer and the vocalist at his best. Hugh Hopper is excellent as ever with his understated approach. Ratledge astounds occasionally - Hibou Anemone & Bear is particularly good to my ears.
The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS.
CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php
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Padraic View Drop Down
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 13:42
Interesting as I was looking to get that 2 in 1 version of the first two Soft Machine records...if audio quality is indeed an issue, I'll hold off - I've got that compilation and the songs off the first disc do sound pretty good.
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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 15:20
Originally posted by Dick Heath Dick Heath wrote:

Originally posted by James James wrote:

Speaking of early Soft Machine, what is the quality like in regards to the two remasters of Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively?  I am very tempted in getting them to replace my 2-in-1 version of those two wonderful debut albums.
 
Checking round the web:
a) can't confirm these are remasters
b) if they are remasters, no review states so, let alone mentions audio quality
c) the release date seems up to 2 months away?
d) Amazon.UK lists price seems to be the same number in sterling as CD Universe lists in US Dollars.
e) hey, yet somebody else providing the liner notes - who he???
Personally I found the (assumed) remastering of Soft Machine and Volume 2 tracks featured on the Out-Bloody-Rageous compilation much superior to that audio quality heard on the twoforone CD - but Soft Machine was literally recorded overnight during one of the Hendrix package tours of the USA and you can almost bet as cheaply as possible. I'll contact the Hopper brothers for more detail.


They were released in 2007, Dick and I did read that they are remastered with new liner notes.  Let me check my sources.

Amazon says they were released on 17 April 2007.  According to the RateYourMusic entries, Volume Two on the American Water label is a  remaster, but this doesn't necessarily mean it is.

I really need to know the state of these two albums, before I decide whether to purchase them.  I'd love to hear Brian Hopper's comment, Dick.
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Points: 9008 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 19:28
I've been having a sort of  Canterbury Renaissance in the past week and ordered some known albums to replace my MP3 copies of them.

Soft Machine - Third
Gong - You
Hatfield and the North - The Rotter's Club  (this'll be my first time listening to it, but I own their debut.)

I'm thinking on purchasing Soft Machine's Grides .  Any thoughts on the album aside from the great reviews praising it? I'll also get the 2 first Supersister albums as well and I've only heard their debut. Should be fun. Smile


Aside from all of that, are there any albums that you guys would like to recommend me? I'm looking for a groovier Canterbury sound. Try to avoid recommending me things like Soft Machine's Bundles or Matching Mole's Red Album, please.

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Points: 12625 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 19:39
For those interested:
Eclectic have announced that they'll be re-issuing on cd the 4 first Supersister albums (was announced in PE).
 
 
Hanging Sounds

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Points: 89372 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2008 at 22:12
Have you tried Gilgamesh yet, Ruben?
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