It was originally called “jazz-rock,” but eventually became labeled as “progressive rock” or “jazz fusion.” These two albums reflect the latest sounds from artists that were there from the early fledgling days.
Together since the 1970s, the latest team of Soft Machine includes John Etheridge/g, Theo Travis/ts-ss-fl-key, Roy Babbington/b and John Marshall/dr in a fresh sounding mood. The team is surprisingly swinging on some of the material with the team in a hip soul groove with Rhodes piano and soprano sas on “Out Bloody Rageous” and Babbington supplying a nice line for some feathery fluet on “Fourteen Hour Dream.” Even Etheridge’s metallic guitar melds with Travis’ tenor to go from trudge to nudge on “Hidden Details” and some vintage Soft Machine pastels takes place with gentle acoustic guitar and soprano sax on a lovely “Heart Off Guard” while the gents get a bit abstract on “Ground Lift.” Still sounding fresh after almost half a century.
Drummer Xavi Reija teams up with King Crimson member Tony Levin/eb-stick, Markus Reuter/touchguitar and Dusan Jevtovic/eg for a mix of space journeys and rock excursions. The team thunders and thrashes on the heavy metal “Deep Ocean” while Reija takes the band through an angular rocker on “From Darkness.” The four part title track goes from moody and mystical chords on “I” to elliptical bass and guitar lines on “II” to a trudging blues on “III” until Reija slowly walks the band through thick marshes up to its electronic and dramatic climax on the crashing “IV.” The progression of progressives.