Here’s a find for fusion fanatics…
One of the best and enduring jazz rockers, Soft Machine, finally has a definitive “live” recording from their halcyon days. Taken from 1970 gigs during a March 2 concert in Paris France and a January 17 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, this three disc set captures the band of Elton Dean/as-saxello, Lyn Dobson/sax-fl-harm-voc, Hugh Hopper/b, Mike Ratledge/p-key and Robert Wyatt/dr-voc at just the moment of releasing their classic Third album.
From these recordings, you get a trio takes of “Facelift”, two stretched out for 18-19 minutes of flutified space travel, as well as some searing soprano excursions on a condensed “Slightly All The Time”. A mere 6 minute “Moon In June” includes a medley with some vintage vocal improvisations by Wyatt. Most intriguing are songs from future albums, such as “Pigling Bland” and “Esther’s Nose Job” all in fledgling form. Also, a couple of pieces that only saw light in anthologies include “Mousetrap” and “Noisette”, so it’s a treat to finally hear them in front of an audience. Ratledge does some pretty piano work on “ Sign of the Times”, and there’s a hip and fluid groove to the opus “Out-Bloody-Rageous”. The mixture of concise tunes and marathons makes for a clever night, melding intense moments on “Eammon Andrews” with loose improves as on “Backwards”. The sound quality is acceptable, as even a sepia unknown picture of Rita Hayworth is worth seeking out. A cache, indeed!