Description
Soft Machine – Live 1970 – Compact Disc
Live 1970 by Soft Machine is a live album capturing the British progressive rock and jazz fusion band at their creative and experimental peak. Recorded in 1970 during a performance in Europe, this album showcases the band’s shift from psychedelic rock toward jazz fusion, with extended improvisations, complex time signatures, and intricate interplay between instruments. Known for their genre-defying sound and musicianship, Soft Machine was a foundational part of the Canterbury scene, a British musical movement that blended rock, jazz, and avant-garde influences.
By 1970, Soft Machine had evolved from their initial psychedelic rock sound into a band deeply rooted in jazz fusion. At this time, the lineup featured Robert Wyatt on drums and vocals, Mike Ratledge on keyboards, Hugh Hopper on bass, and Elton Dean on saxophone and saxello. This lineup, often referred to as the “classic” Soft Machine quartet, pushed the band toward a more experimental and improvisational direction, allowing each member to explore their instruments in innovative ways.
The Live 1970 recordings highlight this shift, with long-form jams, complex compositions, and elements of free jazz. The band’s sound on this live album is bold, cerebral, and exploratory, marked by Dean’s avant-garde saxophone lines, Hopper’s distorted bass, Ratledge’s distinctive organ and electric piano, and Wyatt’s polyrhythmic drumming.
Key Tracks and Performance Highlights
‘Facelift’ – One of the most iconic pieces in Soft Machine’s catalog, “Facelift” opens with distorted, experimental sounds before evolving into a complex jazz-rock composition. This live version expands on the original, showcasing extended improvisations, with each member exploring new sonic territory.
‘Eamonn Andrews’ – This track, a fusion of avant-garde jazz and rock, demonstrates the band’s ability to shift between tight, composed sections and open, free-form improvisations. Elton Dean’s saxophone work is particularly notable here, bringing a raw, intense energy.
‘Slightly All the Time’ – A composition from their studio album Third, “Slightly All the Time” in a live setting features intricate bass lines and subtle interplay between saxophone and organ. The live arrangement allows for more dynamic shifts, stretching the piece into new rhythmic and harmonic directions.
‘Moon in June’ – This live version of “Moon in June” offers a unique twist on the original track, with Wyatt’s vocals adding a surreal, whimsical touch. The performance combines lyrics with extended instrumental sections, blending melodic lines with experimental improvisation.
‘Out-Bloody-Rageous’ – Known for its psychedelic and ambient qualities, “Out-Bloody-Rageous” brings a sense of structure and harmony amidst the album’s otherwise free-form compositions. The track features a combination of tape loops, layered keyboard sounds, and jazz-inspired drumming that captures the progressive nature of Soft Machine’s sound.
Live 1970 captures Soft Machine’s transition into jazz fusion and avant-garde territory, reflecting themes of exploration, freedom, and complexity. Rather than adhering to traditional song structures, the album emphasizes musical conversation between the members, each of whom brings a unique voice and technical prowess to the performance. The band’s improvisational style, particularly Wyatt’s unpredictable drumming and Dean’s saxophone flourishes, underscores their dedication to pushing beyond genre conventions.
The extended jams and dense soundscapes create a listening experience that feels both cerebral and spontaneous. The album’s texture is often intense, with bursts of melody emerging from chaotic arrangements, reflecting Soft Machine’s commitment to challenging the listener and themselves.
Live 1970 has been highly regarded by fans of jazz fusion, progressive rock, and the Canterbury scene, praised for its ambitious sound and improvisational brilliance. The album captures a pivotal moment in Soft Machine’s career, showing their evolution from psychedelia to jazz fusion. While not as widely known as their studio albums, Live 1970 is celebrated among aficionados for its raw energy and its glimpse into the band’s live chemistry.
The performance showcases the musicianship of each member and their ability to adapt and respond to each other in real time. As a result, Live 1970 has gained a reputation as a definitive live document of Soft Machine’s influence on the fusion genre, inspiring a range of artists in jazz, rock, and experimental music.
Live 1970 remains a significant release in Soft Machine’s discography, celebrated for its bold experimentation and fusion of rock and jazz. It offers listeners a window into the band’s creative process and highlights their improvisational skill, making it an essential album for fans of progressive and avant-garde music. For those interested in the roots of jazz fusion and the Canterbury scene, Live 1970 captures the essence of Soft Machine’s groundbreaking approach and their legacy as one of the most innovative acts in British rock.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Facelift (Excerpt)
Moon In June (Excerpt)
Out-Bloody-Rageous
Facelift
Fire Engine Passing With Bells Clanging
Pig
Orange Skin Food
A Door Opens And Closes
10:30 Returns To The Bedroom
Pigling Bland
10:30 Returns To The Bedroom (Reprise)
