Soft Machine – Fourth (1971)

By 1971, Soft Machine, while still retaining the core of Mike Ratledge and Robert Wyatt, was a very different beast from the whimsical psychedelic pop group they'd started five years earlier with Daevid Allen and Kevin Ayers.

Now, they're a full blown jazz group, releasing their first solely instrumental album, with Wyatt's presence completely absent as singer or composer.

I bought this as part of a five CD set of Soft Machine albums, many moons ago, one of a series which has led me into some interesting avenues (and some unpleasant dead ends).

As already stated, this is a straight up jazz album, with the majority of the composition coming from bassist Hugh Hopper, and discordantly realised by sax player Elton Dean. Opener Teeth (a Ratledge composition) is one of the easier tracks to enjoy, due there being discernable tunes throughout most of its frantic nine minutes. Kings And Queens starts off more reflectively, and meanders languidly through a fine sax theme. Dean's Fletcher's Blemish is a 'free jazz' cacophony.

The second part is a single composition, Virtually. There's a solid tune to the first section, while the second section feels like a duel to the death between sax and organ, before trying to drag the first part back. The third part noodles along ambiently into the final part meaning the piece fades away rather than finishes.

It's a competent jazz album, and after Third the writing was probably on the wall. Robert Wyatt didn't want to be just the drummer in a jazz combo, and left soon after. I find it a frustrating listen, with some interesting stuff, but a lot of aimless wandering.

Link to whole album

3* - a mixed bag, but the final nail in the coffin for one of England's proto-psych bands