Exposé Online banner

Soft Machine

Soft Machine
Country
England
Profile
Soft Machine (originally The Soft Machine) is an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book of the same title by William S. Burroughs. One of the two offshoots of Wilde Flowers, they were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and after their psychedelic beginnings, helped pioneer the genres of progressive rock and jazz fusion. Some of the band's most notable alums are Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Hugh Hopper, and Daevid Allen. Various of the band's alumni have regrouped in other configurations, often with the word "Soft" in the name: Soft Heap, Soft Bounds, Soft Machine Legacy, and so on. In 2016, the musicians who had been playing as Soft Machine Legacy (John Marshall, Roy Babbington, John Etheridge, and Theo Travis) started using the original Soft Machine name.
Website
Not on file
Related articles (39)
Releases on file (42)
Soft Machine — Hidden Details Soft Machine — Hidden Details
(Moonjune MJR093, 2018, CD / DL)
Various Artists — Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales Various Artists — Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales
(Zeitgeist Media 3, 2015, DVD)
Hugh Hopper — Volume 1 - Memories Hugh Hopper — Volume 1 - Memories
(Gonzo Multimedia HST240CD, 2014, CD)
Soft Machine Legacy — Burden of Proof Soft Machine Legacy — Burden of Proof
(Moonjune MJR052, 2013, CD)
Soft Machine Legacy — Live Adventures Soft Machine Legacy — Live Adventures
(Moonjune MJR036, 2011, CD)
Delta Saxophone Quartet — Dedicated to You... But You Weren't Listening Delta Saxophone Quartet — Dedicated to You... But You Weren't Listening
(Moonjune MJR017, 2007, CD)
Soft Machine Legacy — Steam Soft Machine Legacy — Steam
(Moonjune MJR016, 2007, CD)
Hugh Hopper — Volume 9 - Anatomy of a Facelift Hugh Hopper — Volume 9 - Anatomy of a Facelift
(Gonzo Multimedia HST260CD, 2007/2015, CD)
Soft Machine Legacy — Live at the New Morning Soft Machine Legacy — Live at the New Morning
(INAK 9076 2CD, 2006, 2CD)
Soft Machine Legacy — Soft Machine Legacy Soft Machine Legacy — Soft Machine Legacy
(Moonjune MJR008, 2006, CD)
Soft Machine Legacy — Live in Zaandaam Soft Machine Legacy — Live in Zaandaam
(Moonjune MJR006, 2005, CD)
Soft Works — Abracadabra Soft Works — Abracadabra
(Moonjune Universal UICE-1029, 2003, CD)
PolySoft — Tribute to Soft Machine - Live at Le Triton 2002 PolySoft — Tribute to Soft Machine - Live at Le Triton 2002
(Le Triton TRI-03506, 2003, CD)
Various Artists — To Canterbury and Beyond - A Tribute to the Canterbury Scene Various Artists — To Canterbury and Beyond - A Tribute to the Canterbury Scene
(Mellow MMP 361 A/B, 1999, 2CD)
Robert Wyatt — Little Red Robin Hood - A Documentary Robert Wyatt — Little Red Robin Hood - A Documentary
(boid v-boid 1, 1998, VHS)
Soft Machine — Land of Cockayne Soft Machine — Land of Cockayne
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2208, 1981/2010, CD)
Soft Machine — Alive and Well Recorded in Paris Soft Machine — Alive and Well Recorded in Paris
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22234, 1978/2010, 2CD)
Soft Machine — Softs Soft Machine — Softs
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2202, 1976/2010, CD)
Soft Machine — Bundles Soft Machine — Bundles
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2196, 1975/2010, CD)
Soft Machine — Floating World Live Soft Machine — Floating World Live
(Moonjune MJR007, 1975/2006, CD)
Soft Machine — Switzerland 1974 Soft Machine — Switzerland 1974
(Cuneiform Rune 395/396, 1974/2015, CD+DVD)
Soft Machine — Six + Seven Soft Machine — Six + Seven
(Edsel MEDCD 740, 1973/2004, 2CD)
Soft Machine — Fourth / Fifth Soft Machine — Fourth / Fifth
(Columbia 493341 2, 1972/1999, CD)
Soft Machine — Live in Paris May 2nd, 1972 (aka Live in France) Soft Machine — Live in Paris May 2nd, 1972 (aka Live in France)
(Cuneiform Rune 195/196, 1972/2004, 2CD)
Soft Machine — BBC Radio 1967-1971 Soft Machine — BBC Radio 1967-1971
(Hux Records 037, 1971/2003, 2CD)
Soft Machine — Drop Soft Machine — Drop
(Moonjune MJR023, 1971/2009, CD)
Soft Machine — Grides Soft Machine — Grides
(Cuneiform Rune 230/231, 1971/2006, CD+DVD)
Soft Machine — Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 Soft Machine — Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971
(Reel Recordings RR014/015, 1971/2009, 2CD)
Soft Machine — Virtually Soft Machine — Virtually
(Cuneiform Rune 100, 1971/1998, CD)
Soft Machine — Backwards Soft Machine — Backwards
(Cuneiform Rune 170, 1970/2002, CD)
Soft Machine — Breda Reactor Soft Machine — Breda Reactor
(Voiceprint VP345CD, 1970/2004, 2CD)
Various Artists — Canterburied Sounds Volume 2 Various Artists — Canterburied Sounds Volume 2
(Voiceprint VP202CD, 1970/1998, CD)
Soft Machine — Facelift Soft Machine — Facelift
(Voiceprint VP233CD, 1970/2002, 2CD)
Soft Machine — Noisette Soft Machine — Noisette
(Cuneiform Rune 130, 1970/2000, CD)
Soft Machine — Third Soft Machine — Third
(BGO BGOCD 180, 1970/1993, CD)
Kevin Ayers — Joy of a Toy Kevin Ayers — Joy of a Toy
(EMI 07243-582776-2-3, 1969/2003, CD)
Soft Machine — Live at the Paradiso 1969 Soft Machine — Live at the Paradiso 1969
(Voiceprint VP139CD, 1969/1995, CD)
Soft Machine — Spaced Soft Machine — Spaced
(Cuneiform Rune 90, 1969/1996, CD)
The Soft Machine — Volume Two The Soft Machine — Volume Two
(Sundazed CD 5342, 1969/2010, CD)
The Soft Machine — The Soft Machine The Soft Machine — The Soft Machine
(Sundazed SC 6305, 1968/2012, CD)
Soft Machine — Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 2 Soft Machine — Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 2
(Voiceprint VP234CD, 1968/2001, CD)
Soft Machine — Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1 Soft Machine — Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1
(Voiceprint vp231cd, 1967/2001, CD)

Latest news

2019-11-07
Glenn Smith RIP – Glenn Smith, founder, mandolinist, and primary composer of the DeLand, Florida based prog / fusion band Magnatar, passed away on October 18th 2019 at the age of 68, after a brief illness.  » Read more

2019-11-04
Dino Brassea RIP – Word reaches us of the passing of Dino Brassea, who sang and played flute in Cast for many years. By our count, Brassea appeared on 11 Cast albums between 1994 and 2002. He also released music as a solo artist. » Read more

2019-10-06
Ginger Baker RIP – Legendary English drummer Ginger Baker has died at the age of 80. After coming to fame with Cream in the 60s alongside Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, he became one of the most recognized and influential drummers of the rock era. On September 25, his family announced that he was critically ill, and on October 6 his death was confirmed. » Read more

2019-08-20
Alex's Hand Seeks Spa Treatment – American / European band Alex's Hand has a new album in the works called Hungarian Spa, which looks to be their biggest and best yet, featuring a large roster of guest musicians. They're seeking funding to take the project on the road, and are looking for help from the crowd of wisdom. » Read more

2019-06-05
Legendary Co-Founder of The 13th Floor Elevators Passes Away at Age 71 – Sadly, Roky Erickson passed away on May 31, 2019. Known as the father of psychedelic music and co-founder of the ground breaking 13th Floor Elevators, Roky had a profound influence on music from the 60s to today. Plagued by his own personal demons, Roky had a difficult life and is now free of these burdens. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Phideaux - Friction – Phideaux (pronounced like "Fido") is New York singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Phideaux Xavier. His debut release, Friction, is a dense and quite impressive piece of work. Featuring something in...  (1996) » Read more

Simon Steensland - The Simon Lonesome Combat Ensemble – Cutting-edge, unpretentious and imaginative are three adjectives that describe this offering by Swedish multi-instrumentalist and composer Simon Steensland. Mixing elements of rock, neo-classical,...  (1994) » Read more

Ozric Tentacles - The Floor's Too Far Away – One can always count on Ozrics to deliver a disc full of captivating grooves, shredding guitar solos, surreal swirling psychedelic atmospheres, unusual rhythmic textures, and clever sonic gimmicks....  (2007) » Read more

Stuckey/Murray - Mythical Fornication – If you are easily offended, don’t appreciate sophomoric humor, are a sensitive 90s male or a socially conscious feminist, please don’t buy this CD. If you enjoy bawdy humor (okay, beyond...  (2008) » Read more

EAS - Absolute Presence – It's hard to be a three-piece guitar, bass, and drums progressive rock band and not sound like Rush it seems. EAS has enough in common with them that comparisons are hard to avoid. The...  (1997) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

Octopus Syng - Cuckoo Clock Mystery video

More recommendations
The Seventeenth Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival 2019

Print issues