Abracadabra [Import, Limited Edition]

Soft Machine, ???????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 5, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B00006JOO6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #941,895 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Allan Holdsworth reunites with members of Soft Machine, including Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper, and John Marshall. Allan and the group recorded this instrumental studio project in London during the summer of 2002, all of the musician's involved shine throughout. Featuring Allan Holdsworth, guitar, Elton Dean, sax, Hugh Hopper, bass, and John Marshall, drums. Limited miniature gatefold LP sleeve. Universal. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly inspiring, September 12, 2003

By 

Dan A. Bobrowski "boceephus" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abracadabra (Audio CD)

I am a Holdsworth fan. I've pretty much grabbed up everything he's done. This disc instantly became one of my favs. The open feel to this album makes for good background music and should appeal to even those persons who can't get a grip on Allan's other work. Allan's playing is relaxed and free. I think he's under less pressure when he is not overly in control of the whole recording process, which I believe is the thing he's been missing on a lot of his own discs. Elton Dean plays some soulful sax which can be tense and moody.
Great disc, how about more?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A big surprise, October 11, 2003

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abracadabra (Audio CD)

I don't generally like Allan Holdsworth. Nor do I usually like jazz/rock. So I'm really suprised at how much I've enjoyed this disc.

I think it's primarily because alto sax and saxello player Elton Dean finds himself in a context where his innate melodicism comes to the fore and his declamatory, expressivist tendencies are properly situated. For me, this constitutes his finest playing on record, and I've heard him in quite a lot of settings, including lots of his recent extended avant-garde outings.

Holdsworth, too, seems more interested in melodic and rhythmic nuance than mere pyrotechnics. The other players, Hugh Hopper (bass) and John Marshall (drums) consistently provide engaging rhythmic support. Not revolutionary but hugely satisfying.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Soft Machine Reunion!, July 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Abracadabra (Audio CD)

A combination of early and late model Soft Machine, in which Allan Holdsworth remembers how to play jazz, Elton Dean remembers how to play melodically, John Marshall remembers how to play fusion, and Hugh Hopper shows he never forgot any of it.