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Which Soft Machine album should I try next?
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BrufordFreak View Drop Down
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    Posted: February 19 2022 at 09:04
In my music collection, I only own (& know) The Softs' first four albums and then Bundles, which is my favorite.

In your opinions, which one, from the rest of their discography, should I try next?
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Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

In my music collection, I only own (& know) The Softs' first four albums and then Bundles, which is my favorite.

In your opinions, which one, from the rest of their discography, should I try next?

This may sound cock-eyed, but I'm no fan of Third and I have a particular Softs-pot for Land of Cockayne, although Bundles is bundles of fun too.  It's all in the Hidden Details. Wink
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I love them all, but based on your post I’d definitely go with “Softs” next. It’s similar to Bundles but I think it’s even proggier - meaning it feels less like a fusion album and more like a prog album. John Etheridge replaces Allan Holdsworth, bringing a different guitar style to the mix. Jenkins has moved to full-time keyboards and they have a dedicated winds player (Alan Wakeman).

After that I’d probably go with Six - half live, half studio double album, and Karl Jenkins’ debut with the band, not quite the dominant composer yet, but sharing about 50/50 with Ratledge.
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Alive and Well in Paris is a great live recording.
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Originally posted by HolyMoly HolyMoly wrote:

I love them all, but based on your post I’d definitely go with “Softs” next. It’s similar to Bundles but I think it’s even proggier - meaning it feels less like a fusion album and more like a prog album. John Etheridge replaces Allan Holdsworth, bringing a different guitar style to the mix. Jenkins has moved to full-time keyboards and they have a dedicated winds player (Alan Wakeman).

After that I’d probably go with Six - half live, half studio double album, and Karl Jenkins’ debut with the band, not quite the dominant composer yet, but sharing about 50/50 with Ratledge.


This!!

After 4, try 6

After Bundles, try Softs.


.


Edited by Sean Trane - February 19 2022 at 10:41
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Originally posted by BrufordFreak BrufordFreak wrote:

In my music collection, I only own (& know) The Softs' first four albums and then Bundles, which is my favorite.

In your opinions, which one, from the rest of their discography, should I try next?

Softs and Fifth - but I guess you should listen to other Soft Machine fans than me. I don't like Allan Holdsworth's playing at all and Bundles is my least favorite of theirs because of it.
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Six. Gesolreut is about as good as it gets.
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Thanks, Everyone! You've got me excited!
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For me "Softs" and "Seven" are closest to "Bundles" your favourite. Lots of live stuff too which is another subject but one worth pursuing. 
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Originally posted by HolyMoly HolyMoly wrote:

I love them all, but based on your post I’d definitely go with “Softs” next. It’s similar to Bundles but I think it’s even proggier - meaning it feels less like a fusion album and more like a prog album. John Etheridge replaces Allan Holdsworth, bringing a different guitar style to the mix. Jenkins has moved to full-time keyboards and they have a dedicated winds player (Alan Wakeman).

After that I’d probably go with Six - half live, half studio double album, and Karl Jenkins’ debut with the band, not quite the dominant composer yet, but sharing about 50/50 with Ratledge.

I agree as well. 

Softs
6
7 
5
Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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