DEDICATED TO YOU, BUT YOU WEREN'T LISTENING

4.5 stars. I must admit I was blown away by the lineup here.The rhythm section (Clyne & Jackson) from Keith's debut had left so he has some guests on here filling in. Bass players Babbington (NUCLEUS and SOFT MACHINE) and Whitehead (ISOTOPE) and drummers Wyatt (SOFT MACHINE), Howard (SOFT MACHINE) and Spring (NUCLEUS). On guitar Boyle (ISOTOPE). The groups I put beside these band members are the groups they played for or would play for in the future. The core lineup for this band had been together since mid 1968 and included Tippet of course on keyboards along with horn players Dean, Charig and Evans. The latter three played on SOFT MACHINE's "Third" the year before. In the liner notes it talks about how much fun these guys had recording these tracks. Keith says : "It was fantastic, everybody was leaping around, very happy. Not drunken...just merry. You can tell what it was like from the fade-outs; the tracks weren't faded for musical reasons, but because we never wanted to stop playing." These guys loved Free-Jazz, it gave them an opportunity to be creative and improvize without restrictions or boundries. All this can be felt here on this album.The album takes it's title from the great Hugh Hopper of course.

"This is What Happens" is so catchy. You can't help but bop around to this one. Drums and percussion as the horns blast away. Piano after 2 1/2 minutes as the horns back off. Not for long though as everybody joins in.The drumming here is relentless. "Thoughts To Geoff" has no real melody to start as horns, piano and drums come and go until 2 minutes in when we do get a melody. Nice bass lines after 4 minutes and the keyboards are fantstic. It's the bass / piano show 6 1/2 minutes in. Horns are back 8 minutes in wailing away. Intricate guitar from Boyle is back too.

"Green And Orange Night Park" is my favourite. Piano and drums to open as horns join in. This sounds so good when it settles and they start to jam. Amazing stuff. "Gridal Suite" opens with dissonant horns. Drums after a minute. Crazy tune. "Five After Dawn" features these screeching sounds. Horns take over before a minute. Chaotic 2 1/2 minutes in including some laughing. "Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening" is less then a minute of horns. "Black Horse" opens with drums as bass,guitar and horns join in quickly. Great sound. Guitar to the fore 2 1/2 minutes in. Nice. Horns are back.

Just a fantastic album ! If your into SOFT MACHINE's more experimental style of music you need to hear this.