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 (37)
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

2019-01-31
Keyboardist Ingo Bischof R.I.P. – Keyboard player Ingo Bischof, best known as the longtime keyboard player of German band Kraan, passed away on January 29th, 2019. Bischof was born January 2, 1951 in Berlin-Kreuzberg and joined Kraan in 1975. » Read more

2019-01-11
Jazz Composer Mark Lomax, II Releases Epic 12CD Set – In addition to being a fine jazz drummer, Dr. Mark Lomax, II is a composer in residence at Ohio State University, where he has been very busy on the compositional front. The year 2019 is the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first ship bringing African slaves to North America, and in commemoration of this, Lomax has produced 400: An Afrikan Epic, a 12 volume set of CDs featuring a variety of different musical ensembles. » Read more

2019-01-02
Chicago-Based Surabhi Ensemble Tours the World in January – Surabhi Ensemble was formed more than a decade ago in Chicago with the aim of bringing together musicians from varying traditions to make music. Saraswathi Ranganathan, who plays veena, assembled a cast that includes Arabic oud, Spanish guitar, and percussion from Africa and India. This month, the group will be sharing their sounds with concert-goers in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa. » Read more

2018-12-23
Seaprog Festival Seeks Donations – Seaprog is a small festival in Seattle that highlights creative music from many genres with artists from around the world. It's also a US non-profit organization. They're seeking donations to help keep the ball rolling. Starting in 2013, the organization has been growing, and has featured such artists as Free Salamander Exhibit, Jack o' the Clock, Nik Turner, Cabezas de Cera, Miriodor, Thinking Plague, and many more. » Read more

2018-11-16
The Seventeenth Dream of Dr Sardonicus Festival Tickets Now Available – Fruits de Mer Records and their merry crew of psychedelic explorers are getting set to present the next The Seventeenth Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival. The dates are set for August 2-4, 2019 at The Cellar Bar in Cardigan, Wales. They've also announced that the legendary Groundhogs will top the bill. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Mani Neumeier & Peter Hollinger - Meet the the Demons of Bali – Wooaah, wait a minute, hold the phone, and just a cottin' pickin'... Mani has really done something different here! Some may remember the Privat CD reviewed last time. There, he took on every...  (1999) » Read more

Black Stage - Black Stage – This is a project featuring Keiji Haino (electric guitar, flute, harp, voice), Natsuki Kido (acoustic guitar), and Yuji Katsui (violin) that – despite its release date – was recorded live...  (1999) » Read more

Amazing Blondel - Englische Musicke – Amazing Blondel existed throughout the early 70s, originally formed by John Gladwin and Terry Wincott after leaving another even more obscure band called Methuselah. This compilation is drawn from...  (1994) » Read more

Alexander Vogel & Collaborators - Eight Releases from 2004 – Alexander Vogel is your atypical teenager with an affinity for percussion and English improvisational icons. In late 2004 he took it upon himself to begin solo home recordings which soon evolved into...  (2005) » Read more

Quantum II - Quantum II – Anyone remember the Brazilian band Quantum? They had an outstanding self-titled album released around '82, an instrumental blend of euro-progressive symphonics laced with tight jazz fusion elements...  (1995) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

Hi, Person, nice to meet you

More recommendations
The Seventeenth Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival 2019

Print issues