Record Reviews

SOFT MACHINE ~ FIFTH (EXPANDED EDITION) SONY BMG 687290 (Barcode: 828768729021) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene Recorded: 1971 - 1972 Released: 2007 5th album, which is also the first Soft MachineFind albums by this artist recording following Robert WyattFind albums by this artist’s departure from the group. Elton DeanFind albums by this artist enlisted the Australian drummer Phil HowardFind albums by this artist as Wyatt’s replacement. Howard played on Dean’s first album (Just UsFind albums with this title) recorded just a few month earlier and seemed a natural choice. However, after playing with the band for a few months in 1971 and then recording about half of the tracks on this album, the rest of the group felt that Howard’s free style didn’t feel completely right with their Jazz-Rock explorations and decided to look for a replacement. Fortunately they were able to enlist the absolutely best Jazz-Rock drummer on the UK scene at the time, John MarshallFind albums by this artist, who was a member of the fabulous Ian CarrFind albums by this artist’s NucleusFind albums by this artist. Marshall brought to the band not only his amazing technique, but also more importantly his inventiveness and stability, which would serve as the perfect basis for the other members’ improvisations. The band completed the rest of the tracks on this album with Marshall at the drum chair. No horn-section was employed on this album, but the double bass player Roy BabingtonFind albums by this artist was used again to strengthen the rhythm section and allow more freedom and space for Hopper’s explorations. The album includes shorter pieces (in contrast to the LP’s sidelong tracks of ThirdFind albums with this title and FourthFind albums by this artist), creating a much more concise and focused musical opus, surely one of the best SM ever recorded. Listening to this album today will perhaps restore for some listeners the full glory it deserves, which was often overlooked by critics and fans alike, which usually prefer the Third album. This beautiful new remaster improves the original sound tremendously and the bonus track (alas only one) is a gem. Absolutely essential!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend