Soft Machine! What's that all about then? I don't really know. I don't think many people do to be fair. They didn't make big waves in the mainstream world of rock to be honest, remaining firmly "underground" through their late 60s / early 70s heyday.
I remember they were something to do with the so called "Canterbury Scene" that spawned other fringe proggers like Caravan and Gong. In fact the genesis of Gong was by chance when Soft Machine guitarist Daevid Allen was refused re-enty into the UK after a tour in France - he stayed behind and formed Gong in Paris.
Soft Machine were a little different. Their music was largely instrumental leaning heavily on keyboard loops and free form sax over repeating bass grooves, with very little guitar.
Little Known Rock Fact: an early member of Soft Machine was Police guitarist Andy Summers.
The tracks are lengthy jazz rock fusion odysseys, but also drawing on minimalist classical influences like Terry Riley or Philip Glass. Their album titles also embraced minimalism being 1, 2, 3, and so on! (Ed. actually looks like the 3 was actually called Third but get your point).
Thankfully Soft Machine were a predominantly instrumental group, thus limiting the opportunities for possibly the worst voice in rock history, Robert Wyatt, to take the mic.
1. Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
2. Whitesnake - Ready An' Willing
3. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
4. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
5. Soft Machine - 3
6. Bob Holroyd - Without Within
Whitesnake were one of those bands rising from the ashes of Deep Purple in the mid 70s. They sound just like the other main offshoot - Rainbow - although the latter probably had slightly more prog pretensions. They were inflicted a little bit more by that sexist posturing common among 70s and 80s metal bands with lead singer David Coverdale to the fore. But having said that Fool For Your Loving, as featured on this album, was a superb single.
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| David Coverdale in full rock poodle mode |
Another little plug for a superb live act I caught this weekend - American singer Eilen Jewell appearing at Brighton's Prince Albert. Ostensibly your standard Americana/Country Rock fayre but there is something exceptionally accomplished about her band of drums, double bass and electric guitar. Especially the electric guitar - Jerry Miller (not the one from Moby Grape) has an amazing feel and ear for melody and space. His guitar lines are loud and clear but never overbearing and fit perfectly in the music. One of the most effortlessly natural guitarists I've ever seen.
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| Guitar god Jerry Miller on vintage Chet Atkins Gretsch |