Soft machine

Origins: From Psychedelia to Fusion

Kevin ayers

The roots of The Soft Machine lie in the city of Canterbury and the circle of friends of Robert Wyatt, whose core he was. The first composition of Soft Machine took its rightful place in the nascent British underground , and the band's musicians became regulars in the famous UFO club, which was the center of the movement. After releasing their debut single “Love Makes Sweet Music”, the team went on a tour of the Netherlands , Germany and France . At the end of the tour, David Allen was not allowed back into Britain (the visa was long expired). He had to stay in France, where he did not waste time in vain and organized the Gong group.

In 1968, Soft Machine acted as an escort group on the American tour of the Jimi Hendrix Experience team. Between concerts, the band’s first self-titled album was recorded and released, which became a classic of psychedelic rock. During this period, the band's future member, guitarist Andy Summers, joined the team. The newly formed quartet went on tour in the United States, giving several of their own concerts, and again performing at the opening act of the Hendrix team. During the tour, Summers was fired from the group, which was insisted by Ayers, who soon left Soft Machine himself (though this time there were no excesses).

At the beginning of 1969, the former tour manager and composer of the band Hugh Hopper , who took the vacant bassist position, was included in Soft Machine. Together with Wyatt and Ratledge, he took part in the recording of the second disc of the group - Volume Two , which marked the transition to instrumental sound in the spirit of fusion . The subsequent period, despite frequent changes in the composition and contradictions within the team, became very fruitful. The trio turned into a septet when four musicians who played wind instruments came to the group. True, they did not stay long in Soft Machine, and only one of them - saxophonist Elton Dean (Elton Dean) for some time became a full member of the ensemble. In the end, the group acquired the format of a quartet (Wyatt, Hopper, Ratledge and Dean), and in this composition recorded two more albums Third ( 1970 ) and Fourth ( 1971 ). Guest musicians (mostly jazz ) also contributed to these works, including Lyn Dobson , Nick Evans , Mark Charig , and Jimi Hastings . Jimmy Hastings ), Roy Babbington ( Roy Babbington ) and Rab Spall ( English Rab Spall ). The fourth disc was the first fully instrumental work of Soft Machine, and the last album with the participation of one of the founders of the collective - Robert Wyatt.

It should be noted that without exception all Soft Machine musicians were very original and sophisticated performers, and each of them made a significant contribution to the overall success of the group. The main driving force was the genius of eclecticism Rutledge, whose compositional arrangements , arrangements and a great sense of improvisation set the general highest creative level. Charming vocals and original work on Wyatt’s drums, Dean’s lyrical solo parts and Hopper’s unusual pop-avant-garde interpretation combined perfectly to create a unique Soft Machine sound that caused a storm of enthusiasm in the early 1970s . The band's musicians tended to develop standard compositions and give them a suite form. This approach was equally present both at concert performances and during the recording of studio albums (Ayers Suite was already present on the first disc). The quintessential suite of Suite Soft Machine was the third album - Third (1970), containing on each of its four sides one continuous composition, which was very unusual for that time. It was this disc that was published for more than 10 (!) Years in the USA, and became the most successful Soft Machine record in terms of sales.

This period was the most successful in the group's career and brought it great popularity throughout Europe . Soft Machine made history by becoming the first rock band to take part in the prestigious London Proms Music Festival . The concert took place in 1970 and was broadcast throughout the country, which brought the team even more fame.

After Wyatt's departure

Due to creative differences, in 1971, one of its leaders, Robert Wyatt , left the group. Subsequently, he founded his own team, ironically entitled it Matching Mole (a pun based on the French version of the name of the band Soft Machine - Machine Molle ). In place of the departed Wyatt, an Australian drummer Phil Howard was invited. However, this Soft Machine did not bring stability. Conflicts followed one after another, which eventually resulted in the departure of the same Howard (immediately after the recording of the first side of the Fifth album ( 1972 ), and Dean left the team a few months later . John Marshall was called on to fill the gaps) . ) and keyboardist Karl Jenkings (both former members of Ian Carr’s Nucleus band) Thanks to the newcomers, the sound of Soft Machine has become even more jazzy.

In 1973 , after the release of the Six album, bassist Hopper left the band. He was replaced by Roy Babbington ( born Roy Babbington ), another former member of Nucleus, who had previously collaborated with the group. The quartet in the face of Babbington, Jenkins, Marshall and Ratledge recorded the last three studio albums of Soft Machine. After recording a Seven disc ( 1973 ), the group changed the recording studio, moving from Columbia to Harvest . Invited to record the next Bundles album ( 1975 ), fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth significantly changed the traditional sound of Soft Machine, making the guitar one of the central instruments. The manner in which he played resembled John McLaughlin , the leader of the famous jazz-rock band Mahavishnu Orchestra . The guitar parts for the latest studio album Softs ( 1976 ) were performed by another famous musician - John Etheridge ( born John Etheridge ). At the initial stage of recording this disc, the last of the Soft Machine founders Mike Ratledge left the band. At the final stage of the team’s existence, such members as bass player Steve Cook , saxophonist Alan Wakeman and violinist Rick Sanders managed to be noted in its composition. The 1977 live recordings with their participation formed the basis for the latest official release of Soft Machine, ironically titled Alive and Well ( Alive and Bouncy).

Legacy

Since 1988, all Soft Machine live recordings have been released in CD format. Recording quality ranges from excellent to very mediocre. In 2002, four former band members - Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, John Marshall and Allan Holdsworth - made a tour under the name Soft Works . Since the end of 2004, the team has performed under the name Soft Machine Legacy . The group released four discs: Live in Zaandam ( 2005 ), Soft Machine Legacy ( 2006 ), Live at the New Morning ( 2006 ) and Steam ( 2007 ).

In 2005, Graham Bennett's book was published, telling the story of Soft Machine.

According to the results of 1973, the famous music publication Melody Maker announced Six as the best British jazz album. In 1974, the same magazine named Soft Machine the best compact jazz band.

• David Allen (Daevid Allen) - guitar, vocals (1966-1967)
• Kevin Ayers (Kevin Ayers) - bass, vocals (1966-1968)
• Elton Dean (Elton Dean) - saxophone (1969-1972)
• Hugh Hopper (Hugh Hopper) - bass guitar (1968-1973)
• Mike Ratledge - keyboards (1966-1968, 1969-1976)
• Robert Wyatt - drums, vocals (1966-1971)
• Roy Babbington (Roy Babbington) - bass (1973-1976)
• John Etheridge - guitar (1975-1978)
• Karl Jenkins - oboe, saxophone, keyboards, synthesizer (1972-1984)
• John Marshall - drums, percussion (1971-1984)
• Steve Cook (Steve Cook) - bass guitar (1977-1978)
• Marc Charig - Cornet (1969)
• Lyn Dobson (Lyn Dobson) - flute, saxophone (1969-1970)
• Nick Evans - Trombone (1969)
• Larry Nowlin (Larry Nowlin) - guitar (1966)
• Allan Holdsworth (Allan Holdsworth) - guitar (1973-1975)
• Rick Sanders (Ric Sanders) - violin (1976-1978)
• Andy Summers (Andy Summers) - guitar (1968)
• Alan Wakeman - saxophone (1976)

Timeline

Albums

• The Soft Machine (ABC / Probe, 1968)
• Volume Two (ABC / Probe, 1969)
• Third (Columbia, 1970)
• Fourth (Columbia, 1971)
• Rock Generation Vol. 7 (one side, 1967 demo ) (BYG, 1972)
• Rock Generation Vol. 8 (one side, 1967 demo) (BYG, 1972)
• Five (Columbia, 1972)
• Six (Columbia, 1973)
• Seven (Columbia, 1973)
• Bundles (Harvest, 1975)
• Softs (Harvest, 1976)
• Rubber Riff (CD recorded in 1976) (Blueprint 2001)
• At the Beginning (1967 demo, previously on Rock Generation ; also published as Jet-Propelled Photographs ) (Charly, 1976)
• Triple Echo (a collection of three records, 1967-1976) (Harvest, 1977)
• Alive & Well: Recorded ib Paris (Harvest, 1978)
• Land of Cockayne (EMI, 1981)
• Live at the Proms 1970 (Reckless, 1988)
• The Peel Sessions (recorded 1969-1971) (Strange Fruit, 1991)
• BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert 1971 (Windsong, 1993)
• BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert 1972 (Windsong, 1994)
• Live at the Paradiso 1969 (Voiceprint, 1995)
• Live In France (recorded in 1972; also published as Live in Paris ) (One Way, 1995)
• Spaced (recorded in 1969) (Cuneiform, 1996)
• Virtually (recorded in 1971) (Cuneiform, 1998)
• Noisette (recorded in 1970) (Cuneiform, 2000)
• Backwards (recorded 1968-1970) (Cuneiform, 2002)
• Facelift (recorded in 1970) (Voiceprint, 2002)
• BBC Radio 1967-1971 (Hux, 2003)
• BBC Radio 1971-1974 (Hux, 2003)
• Somewhere In Soho (recorded in 1970) (Voiceprint, 2004)
• Breda Reactor (recorded in 1970) (Voiceprint, 2005)
• Out-Bloody-Rageous (compilation, 1967-1973) (Sony, 2005)
• Floating World Live (recorded in 1975) (MoonJune Records, 2006)
• Grides (CD / DVD recorded in 1970) ( Cuneiform Records , 2006)
• Middle Earth Masters (CD recorded in 1967) (Cuneiform Records, 2006)

Singles

• Love Makes Sweet Music / Feelin ', Reelin', Squeelin ' Mono (Polydor UK, 1968)
• Joy Of A Toy / Why Are We Sleeping Mono (ABC Probe USA, 1968)
• Soft Space Parts 1 & 2 (Harvest UK, 1978)

• Soft Machine Website (Link Unavailable )
• Team Biography
• Various group information
• Discography of Soft Machine
• Collapso - Family Tree of the Canterbury Scene
• Interview with Robert Wyatt