SPACED (1969)

This may be the most demented workthe Softs ever released, at least that I've heard. This was originally composed as background for a multimedia event of this title in the time period between the second and third album; so the sense of experimentation and personal challenge for the Softs was growing exponentially. This album represents an edited version of the event comprising tape loops, sonic experiments and some of the most possessed and inspired Mike Ratledge keyboard ever commited to tape along with some pulse style drumming from Robert Wyatt. The thirty two minute fourth section is absolutely astounding;This recording captures the band growing in intellectual depth and complication stretching the improvisations into a more avant garde direction. This is an inspired performance with some fascinating improvisational experiments.