Short Reviews [Soft Machine - 2009 - "Drop"]

Originally released in 2009, this album has now been remastered by Mark Wingfield and reissued with new sleeve notes by Sid Smith. It was recorded on a tour of Germany in November 1971 and captures the line-up of Mike Ratledge (Lowrey Organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano), Elton Dean (saxello, alto sax, Fender Rhodes electric piano), Hugh Hopper (bass) and Phil Howard (drums). This line-up was the first after Robert Wyatt left the band, and his replacement Howard only contributed to the first side of 'Fifth', the album released in 1972. Nearly all the songs from that album appear here, as well as some older favourites such as "Out-Bloody-Rageous" and "Pigland Bland". This album finds Soft Machine moving in quite a different direction, with Dean bringing in Howard from his side project Just Us and together they took the band in a very free jazz manner. The result is something which is chaotic, intense, and undoubtedly quite incredible. This period found the band experimenting, finding their limits and pushing through them, and there is no doubt that many (to this day) find this music difficult to listen to, but in many ways this is some of the most relevant music they have ever released, as while one can still hear the Canterbury roots they are being taken in brand new directions which is still being followed by the many live composition acts one can find such as Anchor & Burden and the ones who like to play with arrangements such as Stick Men. The first time I played this I was both shocked and surprised as it was not what I expected at all, but that soon gave way to wonder as I found myself immersed in the sound and wishing I had been old enough to see them play this back in the day. This recording comes from a somewhat overlooked period of the band, but Mark Wingfield has treated these tapes with care and brought to life music from more than 50 years ago in a way which makes this not only historically important but also a great album to listen to. For fans of free jazz with a band who are chaotically incredible.