Soft Machine

681,859 plays (50,221 listeners)

progressive rock, psychedelic, canterbury, jazz, experimental… see all

Soft Machine was a pioneering British psychedelic, progressive rock and jazz band from Canterbury, England, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury Scene.

The band originally consisted of Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Mike Ratledge, most of whom were former members of Wilde Flowers. Later members have included Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, John Etheridge, Karl Jenkins, John Marshall, and Allan Holdsworth.

Numerous offshoots and side projects have included “Soft” in their names: Soft Heap, Soft Head, Soft Works, and the band Matching Mole, a play on words for the French of Soft Machine (machine molle). As of 2005, Soft Machine Legacy is a working concern. It is interesting to note that the Soft Machine was the only opening act that was ever actually sanctioned by Jimi Hendrix. They received a lot of poor treatment at many of the smaller venues the Experience played at due to their somber stage demeanor, and actually sitting still in front of music stands full of charts and written music while they preformed!

Third
Soft Machine
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Volume One
Soft Machine
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Seven
Soft Machine
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Fourth
Soft Machine
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Top Tracks

1	Save Yourself	217
2	Moon In June	190
3	We Did It Again	175
4	Facelift	164
5	Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening	137
6	Slightly All the Time	135
7	Hope for Happiness	126
8	Hibou, Anemone and Bear	125
9	Joy of a Toy	103
10	A Certain Kind	100
11	Hope for Happiness (Reprise)	88
12	All White	87
13	Lullabye Letter	86
14	Priscilla	84
15	So Boot If at All	82

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Argaalofthemyst wrote:
Saturday afternoon

@GilmoursAngst: Amen to that.

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GilmoursAngst wrote:
Thursday morning

One of THE greatest bands ever. I do believe an amen is in order...

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Argaalofthemyst wrote:
last month

I love this band. The 'Virtually' suite from 'Fourth' is an absolute masterpiece.

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KFLester wrote:
last month

fuck yes, awesome guys from my hometown

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PhiMuCaruso wrote:
last month

oui

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hermindseye wrote:
last month

Why doesn't anyone use the 'psychedelic jazz' tag... it's more suiting than 'psychedelic rock'.

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phillip360 wrote:
last month

go deeper with 'pataphysics

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IanCat87 wrote:
last month

"Brain food." I like that, nicvi.

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onetwo1234 wrote:
last month

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba

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tashoz wrote:
last month

i still listen music, thats why i live :)

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Rotschoenberg wrote:
August 2008

SOFT MACHINE Vom Free-Jazz zum Experimentalrock FORM-FARBE-GESTE - 1999 feierte die Reunion von Soft-Machine auf Schloß Augustusburg FORM-FARBE-GESTE - 2008 - Chemnitz 6.9.08 Hansi Noack: Violine Manfred Hering: Saxophon Joe Sachse: Gitarre Ralf Eckhardt: Baßgitarre John Marshall: Schlagzeug ...kennen die Musiker sich untereinander aus verschiedenen Formationen. Joe, Manfred und John spielten komponierten Jazz-Rock im Joe-Sachse-Trio. Joe, Manfred und Hansi trafen im Jazz-Orchester der DDR bei großorchestralerem Free-Jazz aufeinander. Hansi und Ralf überzeugen in der Band r.nen mit Experimental-Rock, der an King Crimson erinnert. Aber alle zusammen hatten Soft Machine als ihr großes Vorbild. Die Gruppe, in der John die längste Zeit ihres Bestehens als Schlagzeuger diente. John Marshall spielte mit allen Jazz-Größen....kann jetzt schon angenommen werden, daß Musikliebhaber von Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, King Crimsons Red aber auch von P. Brötzmanns Machine Gun Gefallen finden dürften.

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nicvi wrote:
August 2008

brain food :)

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magnoliarock wrote:
August 2008

Hello! Please visit: www.myspace.com/magnoliarock /Ronny

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IanCat87 wrote:
July 2008

I have the same birthday as Robert Wyatt. I need to get into this band.

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GosudO wrote:
July 2008

HotRat : I completely agree with you.

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ebonyvsivory wrote:
July 2008

we did it again we did it again we did it again we did it again

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quellepomme wrote:
July 2008

pure sweetness~

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efe68 wrote:
July 2008

great band indeed

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idcompany wrote:
June 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1B22i0gYKE

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N3croyeti wrote:
June 2008

I'm loving Bundles!

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12…5 Next

Soft Machine Radio

Including Matching Mole, Gong, Hatfield and the North, Caravan, Kevin Ayers and more…

Listeners

cinckaro
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to Stanley Stamps Gibbon…
namesicny
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to Dedicated To You But You…
Garmr
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KnockYourself
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plastkanon3000
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tashoz
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Recent Activity

RagnarokB, psycex, yohmgui and 21 other people added Soft Machine to their libraries. 10 hours ago
tiit19 tagged Soft Machine with ‘psychedelic’. Friday evening
enzorocco, Kirke2000, burx and 2 other people added Soft Machine to their libraries. Friday afternoon
The_Sound tagged Soft Machine with ‘progressive rock’. Friday morning
druhtinaz, ddimitriskats, falsere4lity and 2 other people added Soft Machine to their libraries. Thursday evening
buddybradley connected Soft Machine to the group Randhome Music. Thursday afternoon
Sunchylde, nicollevm, dansumption and 12 other people added Soft Machine to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
hahhe tagged Soft Machine with ‘progressive’. August 2008
Scentlesss uploaded SonjaXmas to Soft Machine’s images. August 2008
storvikarn unlinked Soft Machine from British is Better. August 2008