Softs [IMPORT]

Soft Machine

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 1995)
• Original Release Date: June 1976
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: See for Miles UK
• ASIN: B00000119U
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #384,462 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Aubade

2. The Tale of Taliesin

3. Ban-Ban Caliban

4. Song of Aeolus

5. Out of Season

6. Second Bundle

7. Kayoo

8. The Camden Tandem

9. Nexus

10. One over the Eight

11. Etka

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The British progressive rock act's 1976 album. 11 tracks. See For Miles. 1990.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Part Two of "Bundles", right?, November 4, 2005

By	Squire Jaco (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews

There were primarily two albums from Soft Machine that really interested me: "Bundles" from 1975, and "Softs" from 1976. Despite the departure of Allan Holdsworth and Mike Ratledge after "Bundles", the quality of the compositions and playing on "Softs" continues to impress as much as its predecessor. Both albums are 4-1/2 stars.

Critics of this album often compare it to elevator music or light jazz. Listen up: forced to suffer through endless hours of listening to Muzak as a security guard during my summer job in my college days (the late 70's), I feel supremely qualified to quash that hideous "light jazz" accusation! (Don't get me humming the clarinet version of "Penny Lane" again! Aarrgh!!!)

To be sure, this is not the aggressive, "Look what I can do" jazz/rock fusion of Mahavishnu Orchestra, U.K., some Brand X, or other contemporaries of the band. There is a dreamier atmosphere that pervades "Bundles" and "Softs"; but that background is supplemented with catchy bass riffs, searing and soaring guitar solos, great drumming, and interesting melodies interspersed with some great jamming. Actually, if you combined the pre-Brand X "Marscape" album with Camel's "The Snow Goose", you'd have a pretty good idea of the sound of "Softs".

I realize I'm kind of reviewing both albums here, but "Bundles" and "Softs" really are kindred albums that bookend a unique phase of Soft Machine. They share a similar feel and scope between them, while still managing to differentiate themselves with new melodies and perspectives.

These are very good, interesting, entertaining and - dare I say - ESSENTIAL albums for the serious progressive rock/jazz fusion aficionado.

I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 8.9/10; Performance = 9/10; Production = 8.5/10; CD length = 8/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 8.8 ("4-1/2 stars")

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great jazz!!, June 13, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

Although Mike Ratledge, the last original member of the Soft Machine, called it quits prior to the recording of this 1976 album, his departure did not hurt the bands sound. The album is loaded with great music, composed primarily by Karl Jenkins, and supported by the talents of John Marshall, Roy Babbington, and guitar great John Etheridge.

5.0 out of 5 stars Soft Machine having fun., May 30, 2005

By	R.Cittern "Down the Road" (Springfield) - See all my reviews

This is probably the album including Bundles and Two were Soft Machine actally sounds like there doing this for jaming and grooving. Even if Mike Ratelege left he still makes apperences on the synth. Albade is a folk song with John Etheridge and Karl Jenkins on oboe. Tales of Taliesin is a aventuerous jam with a moody piano intro then a shredding solo from Etheridge ending with a rift that grows and grows with layers of keyboards,guitar and bass. Ban-Ban Caliban is a fun grooving track with the same formula as Taliesin and with a great sax solo by Wakeman. Song of Aeolus is a slow mild piece with the piano somewhat off beat. Side two opens with the lush and beatiful acostic turn electric Out of Season. Seocond Bundle continues with the synth loops like Floating World,Between or the French or German Lesson. Kayoo is a drum solo and Camden Tandem is were Etherigde shreds with Marshall still soloing. Nexus is just a vechicle to the funky bass ladden One Over the Eight. Then we go to Etheridge's closer Etika with its jazzy folk flavor. A very nice album,great for anytime of the day. Highly recommended if you can find it.