Description
Soft Machine – Breda Reactor – UK Import Compact Disc
Soft Machine is a pioneering British progressive rock and jazz-rock band known for their experimental and avant-garde approach. They have a diverse discography spanning several decades.
Breda Reactor is a live album by the British jazz-rock band Soft Machine, recorded on January 31, 1970, at Het Turfschip in Breda, Netherlands, and released in 2005 by Voiceprint Records. This recording captures the band during a transitional phase, featuring the lineup of Mike Ratledge (electric piano), Hugh Hopper (bass), Robert Wyatt (drums, vocals), Elton Dean (alto saxophone, saxello), and Lyn Dobson (soprano and tenor saxophones, flute, harmonica, vocals).
The double-disc album presents two complete sets, reflecting the band’s experimental approach and blending of jazz improvisation with rock elements. Notable tracks include the nearly 22-minute “Facelift,” showcasing the group’s improvisational skills, and an early excerpt of “Out-Bloody-Rageous,” providing insight into the development of this composition.
While the recording quality is not pristine, it is considered more listenable compared to other archival releases from the same period. Critics have noted the band’s energetic performance and the unique contributions of Lyn Dobson, whose flute playing and vocalizations add distinct textures to the music.
Breda Reactor offers a valuable glimpse into Soft Machine’s live performances during a pivotal time in their evolution, appealing to both dedicated fans and those interested in the development of jazz-rock fusion.
Voiceprint Records
UK Import
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Eamonn Andrews
Mousetrap
Noisette
Backwards
Mousetrap (Reprise)
Hibou Anemone & Bear
Facelift
Moon In June
12/8 Theme
Drum Link
Esther’s Nose Job
Pigling Bland
Cymbalism
Out-Bloody-Rageous (Excerpt)
Esther’s Nose Job (Reprise)
We Did It Again
