Excellent. Thanks for posting. Now if we only had a doccie on Hatfield and the North, and Egg, and National Health, and Henry Cow, and Gong, and on and on. I love these guys. So obscure. So excellent. Should be mandatory listening.
jesus christ hopper's lines are perfect. Sometimes he plays just one note, and it sound so right, so simple, and so complex at the same time. And sometimes he just absolutely shreds. One of my two biggest inspirations as a bassist. RIP
Great interview from an enigmatic era of Soft Machine in the time when circumstances were building up to chucking Robert Wyatt out of Soft Machine. Looking back with hindsight I would cherish every moment of seeing this lineup live because the material is so familiar to me. But exactly as Robert said especially for Soft Machine fans listening to this lineup becomes harder as they deviate from the jazz-rock genre to a more Avant Garde approach leaving the singer for roadkill. Good thing Robert was a fabulous drummer also but then that became a problem because Robert didn't read music fluently do his playing style was questioned. But for me Robert was the bone to the music that I dearly loved. In this musical stew Robert was becoming less and less of a vital ingredient in the musical recipe. But none the less I loved it all with hindsight although I wish that Soft Machine could have continued in the manner that Robert perceived it to be.
its called Neo Caliban Grides, which is usually just a free improv piece, but this performace has a rare composed section that is only heard one other time, on the album "Grides"
Very cool. I still have the "Third" album. "Facelift" was a favorite from that one. When Robert Wyatt was injured in an accident, I wrote a Soft Machine inspired tune called "Tribute to Robert Wyatt". Sorry, don't have a video of that to post, lol.
It's such a shame that Robert has that stupid accident which left him from the hips down paralysed. He was such a unique drummer, whoes style was totally avantgarde, bridging the gap between rock and jazz like no one did before. His bass drum playing was a sheer delight, not to mention, occasionally, playing toms with his hands, rather than sticks! I also love his singing, which made the first Soft Machine album so awesome. (it beginns with a blessing, it ends with a curse...)
It's really one of a kind, I wish more people were inspired by his style. It's so cool to get everything together rather than the drums leading. He really was unique....
Aww, I used to phone Hugh Hopper in order to purchase his latest albums in the 1990's. He was such a lovely man, same with Elton who was equally nice. Great times. Lovely people. I never met Mike Ratledge or Robert Wyatt who was living in the Lincolnshire market town of Louth a few years back. Louth is also the starting point for the soul jazzers Swing Out Sister.
Mike Ratledge's comments on the band's approach to collaboration as a "loose democracy" are interesting in light of the reality that he would, over the following year, oust Robert Wyatt and alienate Elton Dean from the group, only to relinquish creative control to Karl Jenkins within another year.
i think he was talking more specifically to a non-jazz audience (they were still considered a pop group that was making a crossover at this time). no doubt they have a lot of really easy to listen music if you are prepared for the dadaistic breaks throughout.
yeah, i owned a lowrey organ than a girlfriend got from her grandma and passed to me and it had the exact sound, i loved that damn thing. i should post some tracks we recorded with it. unfortunately the power blew and i never got it fixed.
What was the name of this program?! When was it originally broadcast? Lord, why can't we buy this!? A lot of the performance here was included in The Robert Wyatt Story, but it would be fantastic to see all of it. Incredible, thanks!!!
Great comment from Wyatt about Hopper, who I love, but Robert was right. The end of his time was near as he was outvoted. Fourth was still a great album, but not as good as the first three.
its weird hearing soft machine referred to as "pop music", I think nowadays you wouldn't breath the word pop anywhere near soft machine, even the Kevin Ayers line-up
It's a brief incarnation of "Neo-Caliban Grides", a song that never really was finished. This version is the closest to a completed composition the song ever became; most of the structure was quickly scrapped and replaced with extended "squeaky-jazz" cacophony on subsequent recordings (such as at 4:15). The only full recording of the song as heard here (which I prefer) as far as I know is on the "Grides" CD.
@MrFigueroa007 i don't really like free jazz, but i wouldn't call most of soft machine free jazz. i suppose they had their moments, but I am glad they had structure.
@MrShuggieTodd @MrShuggieTodd umm probably the rather unknown yet very much incredible Jesse Krakow. He's more or less the exact opposite of Hopper. The band he's most notable is Pak, a pretty far out avant-rock-prog-punk anything band. He's lines are much more hectic, but just as amazing as Hoppers. I very warmly suggest to try them out.
The comment about listening to this as being "hard work" I don't totally see it that way. I think if you have developed an ear for jazz or this kind of music, listening to almost any other jazz music should be challenging but not hard work.
I think most of those people are from the southern england area, or Canturbury. Some people call this "canturbury jazz" or "canturbury progressive rock".
I must admit I generally prefered pure bebop to this era of early Soft Machine. 'Softs' was my favorite. I felt they were then most original, focused and well oiiled
Excellent. Thanks for posting. Now if we only had a doccie on Hatfield and the North, and Egg, and National Health, and Henry Cow, and Gong, and on and on. I love these guys. So obscure. So excellent. Should be mandatory listening.
gong has a lot of videos
jesus christ hopper's lines are perfect. Sometimes he plays just one note, and it sound so right, so simple, and so complex at the same time. And sometimes he just absolutely shreds. One of my two biggest inspirations as a bassist. RIP
It doesn't get any better! Thanks! Post more!
Great interview from an enigmatic era of Soft Machine in the time when circumstances were building up to chucking Robert Wyatt out of Soft Machine. Looking back with hindsight I would cherish every moment of seeing this lineup live because the material is so familiar to me. But exactly as Robert said especially for Soft Machine fans listening to this lineup becomes harder as they deviate from the jazz-rock genre to a more Avant Garde approach leaving the singer for roadkill. Good thing Robert was a fabulous drummer also but then that became a problem because Robert didn't read music fluently do his playing style was questioned. But for me Robert was the bone to the music that I dearly loved.
In this musical stew Robert was becoming less and less of a vital ingredient in the musical recipe. But none the less I loved it all with hindsight although I wish that Soft Machine could have continued in the manner that Robert perceived it to be.
Apart from the creativity and the great yet unappreciated music...These guys are extremely cool ...
To me this was the golden era of Soft Machine.
its called Neo Caliban Grides, which is usually just a free improv piece, but this performace has a rare composed section that is only heard one other time, on the album "Grides"
More Daevid Allen/Kevin Ayers/Robert Wyatt era Soft Machine please!
Very cool. I still have the "Third" album. "Facelift" was a favorite from that one. When Robert Wyatt was injured in an accident, I wrote a Soft Machine inspired tune called "Tribute to Robert Wyatt". Sorry, don't have a video of that to post, lol.
You still live and kickin
Hey, Wicked! Mike Ratledge speaks! Such a shame there's only 7½ mins. Anybody out there got any more? Thanks so much for posting this!
This is beautiful & intense music. I was born in '71 & have heard of them but, this is the first to hear them.
It's such a shame that Robert has that stupid accident which left him from the hips down paralysed. He was such a unique drummer, whoes style was totally avantgarde, bridging the gap between rock and jazz like no one did before. His bass drum playing was a sheer delight, not to mention, occasionally, playing toms with his hands, rather than sticks! I also love his singing, which made the first Soft Machine album so awesome. (it beginns with a blessing, it ends with a curse...)
It's really one of a kind, I wish more people were inspired by his style.
It's so cool to get everything together rather than the drums leading. He really was unique....
Perfecto!! Soft Machine was simply an incredible creative band...
Anatomy Of Pop - BBC TV 19/10/70. And this is all that was shown of Soft Machine. I think Marmalade were the other band !
Thanks for this info ❤
Aww, I used to phone Hugh Hopper in order to purchase his latest albums in the 1990's.
He was such a lovely man, same with Elton who was equally nice.
Great times. Lovely people.
I never met Mike Ratledge or Robert Wyatt who was living in the Lincolnshire market town of Louth a few years back.
Louth is also the starting point for the soul jazzers Swing Out Sister.
I miss Auntie Elton every day. Lovely to see him talking and playing.
Mike Ratledge's comments on the band's approach to collaboration as a "loose democracy" are interesting in light of the reality that he would, over the following year, oust Robert Wyatt and alienate Elton Dean from the group, only to relinquish creative control to Karl Jenkins within another year.
+Soulvigilante Where can I read up on this information please? Thanks
Gregory Ashley
Wikipedia, Allmusic, or if you are a glutton for TMI: pinkfloydarchives.com/SM/SMdates.htm
+Soulvigilante Thanks for the great info! I appreciate it!
+Soulvigilante and his use of the word "corporate" which is a dirty word nowadays.
Fuck Karl
Mike Ratledge had a cool look sorta similar To John Cales Velvet Underground era look. Both were Out-Bloody- Rageous!
i think he was talking more specifically to a non-jazz audience (they were still considered a pop group that was making a crossover at this time). no doubt they have a lot of really easy to listen music if you are prepared for the dadaistic breaks throughout.
yeah, i owned a lowrey organ than a girlfriend got from her grandma and passed to me and it had the exact sound, i loved that damn thing. i should post some tracks we recorded with it. unfortunately the power blew and i never got it fixed.
I love how Roberts just talking shit about Mike in his own documentary
...great Soft machine...his magic e mystic music...changed prog-music...they apported a gloriosy epic-sound!
Thank you Robert, it's all in the little finger. lol
What was the name of this program?! When was it originally broadcast? Lord, why can't we buy this!?
A lot of the performance here was included in The Robert Wyatt Story, but it would be fantastic to see all of it. Incredible, thanks!!!
R.I.P. Hugh Hopper
thanks for that info.
i dont know the name. i got just this clip from a friend who had it on DVD from a friend...it was part of a program that was about pop music.
Does any one know what is the name of the number they are playing here?
Thanks.
lmao a the closing comment
Robert Wyatt is just bashing the direction of the band in a documetntary about them, I love him.
Great comment from Wyatt about Hopper, who I love, but Robert was right. The end of his time was near as he was outvoted. Fourth was still a great album, but not as good as the first three.
Wyatt is a force of nature! He went on to make decades of interesting music!❤
Can someone tell me what albums they made with that sax dude?
Third and Fourth
warriors6411 5th too
Neo Caliban Grides. Don't think it was on any studio albums, but it is on some live ones.
It was on Elton Dean’s first album!❤
its weird hearing soft machine referred to as "pop music", I think nowadays you wouldn't breath the word pop anywhere near soft machine, even the Kevin Ayers line-up
Whats the song at 1:52?
It's a brief incarnation of "Neo-Caliban Grides", a song that never really was finished. This version is the closest to a completed composition the song ever became; most of the structure was quickly scrapped and replaced with extended "squeaky-jazz" cacophony on subsequent recordings (such as at 4:15). The only full recording of the song as heard here (which I prefer) as far as I know is on the "Grides" CD.
Soulvigilante Thanks for the info man. I've heard only the crazy Neo-Caliban versions but I love that melody they play here. I'll get Grides right now
@MrFigueroa007 i don't really like free jazz, but i wouldn't call most of soft machine free jazz. i suppose they had their moments, but I am glad they had structure.
Yup. English Home Counties. That's pretty much 'received English'. They're from Kent, specifically, but that's not the Kent colloquial accent.
@gfunkusarelius how can you not like free jazz.
Lol, epic tom roll at 2:02.
@MrShuggieTodd @MrShuggieTodd umm probably the rather unknown yet very much incredible Jesse Krakow. He's more or less the exact opposite of Hopper. The band he's most notable is Pak, a pretty far out avant-rock-prog-punk anything band. He's lines are much more hectic, but just as amazing as Hoppers. I very warmly suggest to try them out.
The comment about listening to this as being "hard work" I don't totally see it that way. I think if you have developed an ear for jazz or this kind of music, listening to almost any other jazz music should be challenging but not hard work.
Fletcher’s Blemish makes more sense live.
i would say more like an attempt to invent fusion.
I think most of those people are from the southern england area, or Canturbury. Some people call this "canturbury jazz" or "canturbury progressive rock".
@PaulThe123 Neo Caliban Grides
I must admit I generally prefered pure bebop to this era of early Soft Machine. 'Softs' was my favorite. I felt they were then most original, focused and well oiiled
A relief without all these f&%ed up guitarplayers.
Ratledge looks a little like Zappa, eh?
i tried, but it ended up being naked horses
They're posh.
man fuck this....ill take Ride and Magic man by Caravan any day!!
Neo-Caliban Grides
sounds like a violin eh