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The Soft Machine - Noisette CD (album) cover

NOISETTE

The Soft Machine

 

Canterbury Scene

4.06 | 69 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
4 stars To quote the liner notes: "This cd is the first full-length release to feature the short-lived quintet version of SOFT MACHINE, captured here on what was actually their very first gig- January 4th,1970 at Croydon's Fairfield Hall. Upon completion of an extensive French tour the previous month, the septet lineup had been trimmed down to a quintet with the departures of Nick Evands and Marc Charig, leaving saxaphonist players Elton Dean and Lyn Dobson to act as the group's brass section.This version of SOFT MACHINE was again mostly active in France, their tour there in February / March 1970 ironically being the last with Robert Wyatt on board." I enjoy some of febus' thoughts in his review, especially where he wonders what the fans would have thought who went to this concert to hear the music from their previous album "Two". Yes "shock" would have been an emotion many would have felt. By this time (just before "Third" was recorded) this band was highly experimental and loved to improvise.They sounded nothing like they did on their first two albums. I must admit even for myself (a huge SOFT MACHINE fan) that this recording is tough to digest at times. Love it though.

The concert opens with one of the band members saying "The program for this evening is that we do a bit, then we stop for a bit, then we do a little bit more." "Eamonn Andrews" is the first track and it starts with piano and bass. It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes to a jazzy mode. Fuzz from Ratledge and drums from Wyatt both crash in at 2 minutes. Impressive. Check out Wyatt. Horns before 5 1/2 minutes start to light it up. The fuzz from Ratledge is killer after 8 1/2 minutes. Bass and drums lead 10 1/2 minutes in. We get blasted right away on the next track "Mousetrap". I like the drums and sound 2 1/2 minutes in. Sax is playing over top. Vocal expressions from Wyatt before 5 minutes. Great tune.

It blends into "Noisette" which features sax and a more laid back sound. It blends into "Backwards" where Dobson comes in on flute and the sound is even more mellow. Nice. Wyatt adds some vocal expressions. It blends into "Mousetrap (Reprise)" where the tempo has picked up and we get some fuzz as Wyatt pounds away. So good. It blends into "Hibou, Anemone And Bear" where the fuzz is very prominant. This is quite jazzy too. Some dissonant sax after a minute. More fuzz before 4 minutes. A calm with vocals before 7 minutes then it kicks back in before it settles one more time a minute later to end it. Great to hear Robert singing in this one. After this song one of the band members announces that they're going to take a piss and have a beer and be back in 10 minutes.

"Moon In June" surprisingly has no lyrics. Drums kick in and dominate then the fuzz takes over. Intense. It settles after 6 minutes but not for long. It blends into "12 / 8 Theme" which features bass, drums and dual horns standing out.The sax is screaming 4 minutes in and the keyboards are prominant too. "Esther's Nose Job" is intense to start. What a fantstic sound here. It settles in after 1 1/2 minutes.Fuzz a minute later. Vocal expressions 8 minutes in and more fuzz a minute later. The tempo continues to shift the rest of the way. "We Did It Again" opens with some killer drumming and the vocals come in around a minute. Sax comes and goes. Keyboards follow. Great sound here.The sax is screaming before 4 1/2 minutes and late to end it.

I so appreciate the pictures of the band in the liner notes. These guys were the definition of cool back then. Outstanding release !

Mellotron Storm | 4/5 |

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