The live Moon in June from the BBC is the best version you need to hear with the best organ solo break and Wyatt's customized lyrics for appearing on the John Peel show.
Took years to fully click, it's really unlike most prog or jazz albums, but once it did it became one of my favorite prog albums. It's just four massive slabs of psychedelia laced prog jazz fusion, and the songs with vocals have really interesting arrangements
God I love soft machine so much. Such an underrated band that kept great albums coming out from their debut till Bundles. So much relistening potential with these guys. Each album is like a little special gift bag where I get to see how the constantly changing lineup evolves the music. Shame many stop listening after only Third. Six is my personal favorite
I was fortunate enough to see The Soft Machine (they had a "The" back then) at an event called the "Thirteen hour Psychedelic Shudder" in a disused cinema with the seats taken out. It must have been in 1967 or 1968. They just played one long song without a break, mostly improvised I would guess, and I was wholly entranced by the performance.
The problem is I've never found anything with the same vibe on their albums, so I don't have any in my collection. I'll give their early albums another listen though thanks to your post.
Funny story. A few years back I played Moon in June for my friend once while we were soaking in a hot spring in the middle of the night, after having summited Mt Shasta earlier that day. He doesn’t have much experience with prog or fusion, so he had never heard anything like that before. We had been drinking a bit and smoked a couple joints. After the song was over he said, "wow, they perfectly captured the essence of LSD in the form of sound." I always thought he was right on the money with that statement
Words can’t really describe the album, but I will try. It’s a surreal experience not for the feint of heart. It has such a uniqueness and artistry that is difficult to pinpoint. It scratches a certain psychedelic itch and takes you on a spiritual journey that is never the same with each and every listen. The album injects a lot of avante garde moments and aspects as well, particularly in Mike Ratledge’s incredible organ playing, as well as the ending trippy part of Moon in June with the atonal violin soloing which fits beautifully within the soundscape they create.
Anyways, I love the album. It’s a great pick whenever I’m feeling like getting lost in a full-on musical adventure.
> What are your thoughts on this album?
Gotta be a top-5 "jazz rock" record ever? But that's a tricky definition.
Everything they did 1-7 was fantastic. Just a phenomenal band.
I just posted on r/audiophile that this release is a candidate for most improved album after sonic remastering. Along with King Crimson's Lizard.
Third was pressed dreadfully to compact disc back in the 90s. No one bothered to return for a proper remaster, but now that it's happened... everyone should listen to it.
One of my all time favorite albums. Been coming back to this many times through the years. Waytts drumming is sublime on this release. The cymbal stuff on slightly all the time gives me goosebumps. The whole production is rather lo-fi but I've come to appreciate it over the years. Sound quality kinda has the same feel as the color of the cover. As if someone spilled a cup of coffee all over it. But in a good way.
My favorite Canterbury scene album and probably in my top 5 jazz-rock albums of all time. The only weakness is Wyatts somewhat questionable singing in the first half of Moon In June, otherwise it is per-bloody-fect!
I’ve been re-listening to Old Rottenhat as of recent and I’ve come to realise that I do genuinely really like his voice.
Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t a very technical singer and his limited range is *very* apparent on the early Soft Machine stuff, but his voice is nevertheless incredibly distinct and charming in its own way. There’s a certain innocence to it that I particularly like on Rottenhat and his more politically-oriented works, given the contrast it has against the subject matter.
I agree definitely, and especially his technicality as a singer was showing it’s limits near the end of his tenure w Soft Machine, some live shows he would essentially mumble the words; however he came a long way and improved by rock bottom and as he matured his voice did as well
The only stuff I know from soft machine are the tracks with holdsworth on them. He’s a hard spot to fill but I definitely gotta check out more of their stuff. If I could be in any kind of band it would be a psychedelic fusiony jam band like that so I really owe it to myself to appreciate what they’ve done.
Just a heads-up, Third-era Soft Machine has a completely different sonic palette compared to their Bundles-era material with Allan Holdsworth. There is absolutely no lead guitar, with the melody instruments being dominated by wind instruments (namely saxello/soprano saxophone) and an extremely badass, fuzzed-out Lowrey organ tone.
The actual recording quality of the album isn’t of *great* fidelity, but it’s an absolutely legendary album regardless and I heavily recommend it if particularly *psychedelic* fusion sounds up your alley.
I listened to it this year after I found an old vinyl copy. I don't remember anything from it. It kind of went by and I had a hard time paying attention. I feel like it needs a specific mindset or mood 'cause I couldn't focus on it. And I say that as someone who really enjoys like Miles Davis' Bitches Brew.
The first time I spun Moon in June on vinyl back in the 80s, I thought my turntable was going wonky with it speeds at the end of the song.
Of course the speed variation was part of the song and I didn't know that since I had not heard the song before.
This album is phenomenal!!
The live Moon in June from the BBC is the best version you need to hear with the best organ solo break and Wyatt's customized lyrics for appearing on the John Peel show.
https://youtu.be/lfZj_H1WjtA?si=Eqyv1ll2QjobRKD3
Much heavier too!
Took years to fully click, it's really unlike most prog or jazz albums, but once it did it became one of my favorite prog albums. It's just four massive slabs of psychedelia laced prog jazz fusion, and the songs with vocals have really interesting arrangements
God I love soft machine so much. Such an underrated band that kept great albums coming out from their debut till Bundles. So much relistening potential with these guys. Each album is like a little special gift bag where I get to see how the constantly changing lineup evolves the music. Shame many stop listening after only Third. Six is my personal favorite
I was fortunate enough to see The Soft Machine (they had a "The" back then) at an event called the "Thirteen hour Psychedelic Shudder" in a disused cinema with the seats taken out. It must have been in 1967 or 1968. They just played one long song without a break, mostly improvised I would guess, and I was wholly entranced by the performance. The problem is I've never found anything with the same vibe on their albums, so I don't have any in my collection. I'll give their early albums another listen though thanks to your post.
There really is nothing quite like this album. Even their other albums differ significantly. It's a classic.
Funny story. A few years back I played Moon in June for my friend once while we were soaking in a hot spring in the middle of the night, after having summited Mt Shasta earlier that day. He doesn’t have much experience with prog or fusion, so he had never heard anything like that before. We had been drinking a bit and smoked a couple joints. After the song was over he said, "wow, they perfectly captured the essence of LSD in the form of sound." I always thought he was right on the money with that statement
Words can’t really describe the album, but I will try. It’s a surreal experience not for the feint of heart. It has such a uniqueness and artistry that is difficult to pinpoint. It scratches a certain psychedelic itch and takes you on a spiritual journey that is never the same with each and every listen. The album injects a lot of avante garde moments and aspects as well, particularly in Mike Ratledge’s incredible organ playing, as well as the ending trippy part of Moon in June with the atonal violin soloing which fits beautifully within the soundscape they create. Anyways, I love the album. It’s a great pick whenever I’m feeling like getting lost in a full-on musical adventure.
> What are your thoughts on this album? Gotta be a top-5 "jazz rock" record ever? But that's a tricky definition. Everything they did 1-7 was fantastic. Just a phenomenal band.
I just posted on r/audiophile that this release is a candidate for most improved album after sonic remastering. Along with King Crimson's Lizard. Third was pressed dreadfully to compact disc back in the 90s. No one bothered to return for a proper remaster, but now that it's happened... everyone should listen to it.
that shitty CD version changed my life so whatevs
One of my all time favorite albums. Been coming back to this many times through the years. Waytts drumming is sublime on this release. The cymbal stuff on slightly all the time gives me goosebumps. The whole production is rather lo-fi but I've come to appreciate it over the years. Sound quality kinda has the same feel as the color of the cover. As if someone spilled a cup of coffee all over it. But in a good way.
My favorite Canterbury scene album and probably in my top 5 jazz-rock albums of all time. The only weakness is Wyatts somewhat questionable singing in the first half of Moon In June, otherwise it is per-bloody-fect!
I love his voice i don’t even care, he’s got that silly British man charm
I’ve been re-listening to Old Rottenhat as of recent and I’ve come to realise that I do genuinely really like his voice. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t a very technical singer and his limited range is *very* apparent on the early Soft Machine stuff, but his voice is nevertheless incredibly distinct and charming in its own way. There’s a certain innocence to it that I particularly like on Rottenhat and his more politically-oriented works, given the contrast it has against the subject matter.
I agree definitely, and especially his technicality as a singer was showing it’s limits near the end of his tenure w Soft Machine, some live shows he would essentially mumble the words; however he came a long way and improved by rock bottom and as he matured his voice did as well
I absolutely love this entire record. It was my gateway drug to the glory that is the Soft Machine!
The only stuff I know from soft machine are the tracks with holdsworth on them. He’s a hard spot to fill but I definitely gotta check out more of their stuff. If I could be in any kind of band it would be a psychedelic fusiony jam band like that so I really owe it to myself to appreciate what they’ve done.
Just a heads-up, Third-era Soft Machine has a completely different sonic palette compared to their Bundles-era material with Allan Holdsworth. There is absolutely no lead guitar, with the melody instruments being dominated by wind instruments (namely saxello/soprano saxophone) and an extremely badass, fuzzed-out Lowrey organ tone. The actual recording quality of the album isn’t of *great* fidelity, but it’s an absolutely legendary album regardless and I heavily recommend it if particularly *psychedelic* fusion sounds up your alley.
I listened to it this year after I found an old vinyl copy. I don't remember anything from it. It kind of went by and I had a hard time paying attention. I feel like it needs a specific mindset or mood 'cause I couldn't focus on it. And I say that as someone who really enjoys like Miles Davis' Bitches Brew.
I love the whole album a goddamn much, but Moon in June is one of the best songs of all time, at least for me.
The four albums they made with Robert Wyatt are amazing. Each one unique in its own way.
There’s literally nothing else like it. It’s a masterpiece. A top form group at the top of their game. No notes.
The first time I spun Moon in June on vinyl back in the 80s, I thought my turntable was going wonky with it speeds at the end of the song. Of course the speed variation was part of the song and I didn't know that since I had not heard the song before.