JET PROPELLED PHOTOGRAPHS

Daevid Allen wasn´t really satisfied when he was a Soft Machine member and he always wanted to redo these songs. If Robert Wyatt changed the lyrics everytime he sang those songs, why not redoing them and sing them from the heart? Daevid Allen followed this premise and, with the help of Josh Pollock, they rearranged Soft Machine´s first songs (from the Jet Propelled Photographs demo) and other tunes from the period in which Daevid Allen was involved. One of the surprises of the record is that Daevid Allen is not the guitar player, and he leaves that role for Josh Pollock, whom guitar playing is considered much better, and Daevid Allen is only the vocalist.

And what about the music? Well, those who are familiar with the original record won´t find many novelties, but the original psychedelic spirit is still there 40 years later. The main difference, beside the lyrics, is the energetic guitar playing by Josh Pollock, that gives a different approach to the songs and make them sound very modern. In fact, those who hadn´t listened to the original songs wouldn´t think they were composed so many years before. Songs like "Save Yourself", "I Should Have Known", "Feelin´ Reelin´ Squeelin´" and "Hope for Happiness", that I consider the best efforts of the whole record, gain such energy that they seem to be conceived on the 2000´s, and confirm Josh pollock´s abilities as player and composer. Although the overall result is quite good, I don´t think it makes this record a must have piece, and it will mainly satisfy Daevid Allen and Soft Machine hardcore fans. For the rest, I reccommend starting with the original record and leave this as a secondary option and, as Professor Paradox notes, do the homework, think about the origins and compare it with the new form.