Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
The Soft Machine - Bundles CD (album) cover

BUNDLES

The Soft Machine

 

Canterbury Scene

4.12 | 477 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Kazuhiro
Prog Reviewer
4 stars The flow of the work might have indeed reflected passage as the band in the album when talking about the history of their music characters. Changing places of the member who was related to the band by the album indeed had various respects as an impression of the work.

Especially, the side of the album is greatly reflected in the tune for the album of Soft Machine. And, the listener might have to go back the music character that they did when listening to this album if he or she is possible.

Time can be divided by some delimitations when thinking about the passage of their music characters and albums. Especially, if this album is considered, a very important point will include the content and the flow of "Six" and "Seven" announced in 1973. It is thought that it is evidence to contain the important factor by the time "Six" and "Seven" reach this album as passage of their music characters.

As for an important part, the existence of Karl Jenkins and John Marshall will be enumerated for the band including the revolution of the music character when thinking about some respects. Especially, the composition of the tune that valued the music score that Karl Jenkins thought about was a major break for Soft Machine. Respect of the composition had greatly acted on the music character of the band. The music character to listen by "Six" and "Seven" might have decided groping and the extension of the directionality that the member who was related to the band at the same time as showing that the band had surely revolutionized it thought about.

As for details until reaching the flow of Jazz Rock and this album with diversity to listen by "Seven", very various methods might have been tested though the flow became a flow with shape that Nucleus unites with Soft Machine as a result.

Point that part where band valued perfection that Karl Jenkins gradually thinks about as some respects when talking about this album appears remarkably. It has respect different from the music character when Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean are surely on the register. And, the point to have excluded the figure mark used for the title of the current album. And, the point that transfered the register from CBS that contracts to EMI/Hervest and was announced. Or, the participation of Allan Holdsworth that surely decided the position of the guitar since Daevid Allen and Andy Summers might have sent a new wind for the band as a history of the band. Allan Holdsworth miraculously participated in "Belladonna" that Nucleus had announced in 1972. If Mike Ratledge that had flexibility in the flow of "Six" and "Seven" of course and was reactive did not exist, this album might not have been approved.

"Hazard Profile Part 1" might be a tune that shows that the band completely revolutionized it. And, it might be a highlight in the tune of this album. Riff of repeated aggressive guitar. Obbligati with tension in close relation to complete dash feeling. The flow reaches the peak from the start. The tune receives Solo of the guitar stabilizing. The performance of Allan Holdsworth that unifies complete Solo to the progress of Chord will be able to be counted as one of eminent Solo. The band produces high-quality Jazz Rock with the dash feeling continued in union.

A beautiful piano melody of "Hazard Profile Part 2" is impressive. It might be understood that Mike Ratledge always pulled the atmosphere of Softs. And, the melody of an acoustic guitar in close relation to a beautiful piano contributes to the tune. The tune shifts to the following flow with a gentle impression kept.

As for "Hazard Profile Part 3", the melody of the organ and the melody of the guitar with Sustain are impressive. The tension gradually expands width. This tune plays the role of the intro to go to "Part 4".

"Hazard Profile Part 4" puts out atmosphere that Riff of an aggressive guitar is a little like to Blues Rock. Riff of the guitar repeated to a steady rhythm is connected with "Part 5" at once.

"Hazard Profile Part 5" receives the flow from "Part 4" and produces the dash feeling at once. The melody of the synthesizer with originality in the flow that appoints the rhythm of seven twines. Each part might indeed include diversity though the tune is advanced from "Part 1" by the composition of the suite. Solo of Mike Ratledge is indeed refreshing.

"Gone Sailing" is solo with the guitar. The picking of original harmony and harmonics that are has been taken. It might be a part where the directionality of the new band presented because the band introduced the guitar was exactly shown.

In "Bundles", the theme with which the tension overflows in close relation to the rhythm of six is a feature. The tension with a good guitar and organ presents the element that looks like Improvisation that the band originally had. And, Solo of the guitar to contribute to the sound of the band completely will have a good flow. However, because Karl Jenkins made it, some calculation might be given as for this tune. To shift to the following development further, the tune heads for the top.

As for "Land Of The Bag Snake", the sound of the guitar of the float in the space twines round an intense rhythm. Mike Ratledge supports the atmosphere of the tune by the obbligati. An intense part is continued. However, the impression that past Softs has because the element of Rock is strong might be a little weak. The tune progresses with the anacatesthesia gradually.

The line of the rhythm and Bass with the anacatesthesia pulls the tune to "The Man Who Waved At Trains". The melody of the wind instrument will have the part that looks like the idea of the composition where the band had gone to middle term. The composition of Mike Ratledge that follows the idea of the music character such as "Fifth" and "Seven" always always continues the atmosphere of good Canterbury.

Because Mike Ratledge composed, "Peff" will have the impression of a mid-term composition of the band very much. The impression of Softs that Mike Ratledge exactly thinks about might appear remarkably in this flow. The tune becomes intense with the wind instrument. Making the sound distorted a little might act on the tune well, too.

In "Four Gongs Two Drums", the dash feeling succeeded from "Peff" is continued and the band advances in union. An oneness advanced as the rhythm of five is introduced might be a part where this album exactly has diversity. The tune of the latter half of the album doesn't appear too much a lot of guitars.

"The Floating World" advances with a complete anacatesthesia. The sound with a beautiful organ is continued. The melody with a grand impression might have exactly added a new part to the band.

This album secedes as a result and Mike Ratledge secedes the band at the end. However, the contribution that he did might be exactly large for the music of Canterbury and Softs. This album shows that Softs is completely done by initiating Karl Jenkins at the same time as existing as very high-quality Jazz Rock.

Kazuhiro | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this THE SOFT MACHINE review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.