Soft Machine: Lyn Dobson (vocals, flute, soprano saxophone); Robert Wyatt (vocals, drums); Elton Dean (alto saxophone, saxello); Mike Ratledge (electric piano, organ); Hugh Hopper (bass).
Recorded live at Fairfield Hall, Croydon, England on January 4, 1970. Includes liner notes by Aymeric Leroy.
Personnel: Lyn Dobson (vocals, flute, soprano saxophone); Robert Wyatt (vocals, drums); George Neidori (violin, trumpet, piano, drums); Elton Dean (saxello, alto saxophone); Mike Ratledge (electric piano, organ); Hugh Hopper (electric bass).
Recording information: Fairfield Hall, Croydon, London, England (01/04/1970).
Soft Machine is one of the most interesting bands that came out of England in the '60s. From the group's beginnings as a quirky psychedelic-rock band, Soft Machine evolved into one of the most unique and vital ensembles of fusion (known in the late '60s/early '70s as "jazz-rock fusion"). Soft Machine's sound was a synthesis of the hard-bop (Freddie Hubbard), avant-garde (Ornette Coleman, Rahsaan Roland Kirk) and early-electric (Miles Davis) movements in jazz and the dark, unusual textures of (then) forward-looking rock (King Crimson). Keyboardist Mike Ratledge incorporates the feel of both jazz giant Herbie Hancock and minimalist composer Terry Riley; Hugh Hopper's bass is dense, fuzzed-out, and aggressive; saxophonists Lyn Dobson and Elton Dean enthrallingly weave melodic lines both hypnotic and unsettling; and drummer/singer Robert Wyatt thunders throughout in a manner that would make Tony Williams proud. NOISETTE is especially valuable to fans of the group (and contemporary jazz) as it documents the (previously unrecorded) five-member edition of the band. For fans, essential; for the curious, a good introduction.
Professional Reviews
The Wire (3/00, p.53) - "...An afficionado's must-have....a reminder of the power of Soft machine live at full-throttle..."
Down Beat (7/00, p.68) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...An innovative union of jazz and rock...expertly taped in a concert hall performance during the first week of 1970....constructing wave after wave of suspense on extended but cleverly structured originals that flow together as one..."
