SIX

Definetely a class act, Soft Machine never had a stable line-up and became a refuge for Nucleus members as these continued to replace departing members. Karl Jenkins is a much needed new blood (replacing Elton Dean on reeds but also playing KB along with Ratledge) as the group inspiration was waning. But in this album, the newer members make their presence felt. For the first time in a while, a tracks gets group credits as opposed to individual ones and others are collaborations. the vast majority of the tracks are penned by Ratledge or Jenkins and Hopper takes a back seat.

One disc is live and the other is studio . The live album is made of two 20 min long tracks made of separate section a bit in the mini-suite mode. Clearly the first track is a renewal of the Machine and sets the direction towards fusion. the second tracks is much in the same mode but interrupted by a drum solo. The second vinyl disc was much shorter in lenght but showed that the Jenkins-Ratledge tancem was also working fine in studio. Only the last track is more in Hugh Hopper's mood - going in a typical RIO direction.

In the middle period of Soft Machine (from 4 until 7), this is the better album to start with and is recommended to all that loved Third and Bundles.

Share this THE SOFT MACHINE review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Sean Trane
• Report this review (#22062)
• Buy THE SOFT MACHINE music online with PA partners
• Show all THE SOFT MACHINE MP3/Stream
• Go to THE SOFT MACHINE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Six page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE SOFT MACHINE related discussions