SIX

I know ! it's a fact ! for most of SOFT MACHINE early fans the story ends up with THIRD or almost FOURTH (a bit free boarder line for me )but it's a great mistake, i mean this recording is a real achievement . I remember at the time in 1973 when i got this album , just a few monthes later than THIRD i had this thought , waow ! ( just the same way another rewiewer said )a double album ? with a live record and a studio record , just like UMMAGUMMA ! ! it's must bee great ! and you know at the time how much double albums were objects of desire and i got to do hard job for getting records . In 1973 i didn't know many things about jazz but this record opened many doors to that kind of music THANKS SOFT MACHINE . The main track that led me to give 5 stars is THE SOFT WEED FACTORby JENKINS , all is said through the title it's about the SM spirit , the machine is moving on slowly , traveling through weird and beautiful musical landscapes . It's dealing with cyclic music (terry riley phil glass) a crossover between tape effects experience and a real band playing on. Listening to that , you're realy switch on the nice cover artwork cover., Both two RATLEDGE pieces are great , only HOOPER 1983 is a bit too much avantgarde and hard to listen to until the end .What about the live record ?There are a few free for improvisation parts but the the whole album is good and amazing. JOHN MARSHALL is an incredible drummer, one of the best ones, even his drums solo are not boring at all , and what about JENKINS , such a talented musician ! HOOPER? i'm not keen on him as a composer but as an intrumentalist , he's at the top, did you hear how much his bass sound is deep and sensual and how much his bass lines are strong. No doubt , this album is a masterpiece and more the sound is great, do you know so much recordings from 1973 with such a great sound? 5 stars no less and thanks to great britain for so much wonders