For any of you Gen Z people reading this I’ll provide a synopsis. Prog rock. The art of talented, psych driven, self absorbed, intelligent life form, locked up for 24 hours with a cupboard full of drugs and instruments. ‘And don’t come out until you’ve got something for me’ came the cry from down the studio corridor as the latest marketing exec disappeared off to his Soho lunch date.
More of a challenge for you kids rather than instant gratification of googling the answer, is you need to sit down and concentrate. You need to drift, let your pre-conceptions go, take in the vibe, the drum solo, the execution of multi layered electronic instrumentation that do not finish in 2 minutes 40. And of course you need to dig out your dad’s flares. Open your mind and you will then have half a chance to appreciate the complexity, intensity and surrealism of Soft Machine in all their glory.
There are certainly passages here that demand attention. Underpinned by John Marshall’s percussion (which at times is beyond brilliant) the overlay’s at times can certainly drift but once they move into a section which has poise and purpose, some of the music on here is exceptional. If, of course, you’ve adhered to the above advice. For those of you who have failed that litmus test, and fallen by the wayside, enjoy your next banging sound from CKAY, Joeboy and Kuami Eugene. Oh, but I will have my flares back please….
