VOLUME TWO

I think this delivery by Soft Machine is a seminal album and by far, my favourite SF album, so I readily grant it 5 stars! It is a unique blend of diverging music genres, crowned by Wyatt's goon voice and tremendous drumming, Hopper's fuzz bass and Ratledge's droning organ and classy piano playing!

It is a real breakaway from the first album, seemingly more playful but finally rather dull in comparison with this one that displays thorough and witty orchestration. The most striking to me is how the band crafted their music so easily. The music can at times be dark, or atonal, so as to create the perfect counterpoint for Wyatt's melodic frail vocal lines.

No particular favourite songs because the album is finally a suite of tunes, but I would pick up "Hulloder", "As long as he lies perfectly still", Dedicated to you" and "Pig".

A groundbreaking album (on a par with Floyd's "Piper") and to me, a well-deserved five stars!