HIDDEN DETAILS

More than a few eyebrows were raised when the SOFT MACHINE LEGACY lineup returns 5 years later calling themselves SOFT MACHINE. Babbington and Marshall have been part of SOFT MACHINE since 1973's "Seven" and John Etheridge jumped on board for "Softs" but playing with them live before that when Holdsworth left. So they are certainly legit using the name and the music here to my ears sounds more like SOFT MACHINE than SOFT MACHINE LEGACY. I have enjoyed this record right from the first spin and if not for tracks 4 and 5 I'm thinking of a higher rating. Those two tracks are good but too laid back and mellow in my opinion.

This is so good though, I am a little surprised. Theo Travis the young guy composed most of the material plus they cover a couple of old SOFT MACHINE tracks. Travis feels like the new Karl Jenkins to be honest adding electric piano to the sax and flute. The cover art is very cool and done by Lasse Hoile. The album was recorded by the legendary Jon Hiseman who sadly passed before it was released hence the dedication "In memory of Jon Hiseman a wonderful musician who engineered the album so brilliantly. Thanks to him and Barbara who took such good care of us during the recording." Man John Marshall is looking old, I actually just looked up his age only to find someone who released a statement saying Marshall had just passed. Hope that's wrong but he retired after the followup to this "Other Doors" while Babbington retired after this album guesting one last time on "Other Doors" on two tracks with his buddy John Marshall.

Oh the music? I am surprised and so impressed at how experimental some of this is. Surprised at Etheridge letting his hair down so often. Marshall just sounding so random much of the time. And Theo with the flute and sax of course including some dissonant and inventive moves but his electric piano play is something I really appreciate bringing "Seven" to mind. A top five includes the opener, the title track and there is some intensity here. Nasty guitar in fact around 4 1/2 minutes in. The two SOFT MACHINE covers are awesome and they help make this special. They being "The Man Who Waved At Trains" and "Out Bloody Rageous(Part 1)". This album ends strongly with those last three tracks and "Life On Bridges" is my favourite track on here and the longest at 8 minutes. This one and the next "Fourteen Hour Dream" round out my top five. There is some otherworldly music on here too my friends including the closer "Breathe" and the "Out Bloody Intro".

This album and Rik's review of "Other Doors" has me tracking down the most recent SOFT MACHINE effort "Other Doors" which could be the last SOFT MACHINE record and that would be a shame.