Jeff Sherman descrive con grande entusiasmo - sicuramente motivato, data la qualità eccelsa delle edizioni Cuneiform - l'uscita prevista per il prossimo mese di Middle Earth Masters, documento inedito relativo al periodo 1967-68 dei Soft Machine. Scrive Sherman:
"I just couldn't wait any longer to tell you about the upcoming Cuneiform Soft Machine release "Middle Earth Masters". As a contributor to the CDs artwork I was privileged to receive an advance copy and I've been playing it for a few days now. Once again Steve F has done it for us Soft Machine freaks. This is areal find and a long-missing piece in my always-expanding SM disk and LP collection. It contains tracks recorded by that line-up of Soft Machine that is particularly meaningful in my life - the circa 67-68 trio of Ratledge, Wyatt and Ayers. This was after all the trio that inspired my brother Greg and our childhood friend Jerry Cook to form Glass after we saw them play in September 1968 (the traycard picture was taken by a 16 year-old Jeff Sherman so blown away by the new sounds of this trio as to hardly be able to hold the camera still! To our collective knowledge this is the only published photograph of Soft Machine backing up Jimi Hendrix on that tour, hence its inclusion) The CD gives us a glimpse into what the bubbub was about in regards to Soft Machine's standing as one of the main bands of the London Underground Psychedelic Scene circa 1967. It also includes tracks recorded live at Roundhouse, Chalk Farm and one track at an unknown venue. Steve has included a GREAT booklet with many never-seen photos of the trio contributed by Mark Ellidge, Robert Wyatt's brother, band confidant and photographer at that time, if memory serves me. The artwork by Bill Ellsworth is, as always with Cuneiform, beautiful. Mike King goes a little overboard pre-apologizing for the recorded quality even going to the great lengths of publishing the technical data as to how these lost Bob Woolford Masters were restored. IMHO he needn't have. The recorded sound is FAR superior to ANY of the few bootlegs I've acquired of the band during this time period and to my ears - and I have done much re-mastering and digital editing in the last 5 years i.e. the archival project Glass did that eventually became the "No Stranger to The Skies" double CD - and the only real problem with the recordings sound was that the PA system SM were using at the time was woefully underpowered - especially when it had to compete with Mike Ratledge's Lowrey organ at top volume in what we're told was basically a cement basement. Because of this PA problem Robert's voice drops in and out and never quite raises to the volume we get to hear it on the Probe studio album The Soft Machine Vol I. BUT that said we get to hear some frantically inventive no-holds barred playing by this trio who were unique even in the Canterbury School of Progressive music.
So, if you're a fan of the first Soft Machine album and want to hear what the band sounded like live on their way to developing that first incredible work, GET THIS when it comes out next month. I can't recommend it any more enthusiastically."
So, if you're a fan of the first Soft Machine album and want to hear what the band sounded like live on their way to developing that first incredible work, GET THIS when it comes out next month. I can't recommend it any more enthusiastically."
E intanto questo appare sul sito Cuneiform:
"Soft Machine were the grooviest, coolest psychedelic band of the era..."-Phil Manzanera.
The Soft Machine were one of England's original and best psychedelic bands, emerging out of the same "UFO Club" London scene at the same time as Pink Floyd. While the band would always undergo constant personnel and stylistic change, their best known lineup in their psychedelic days was the trio of Kevin Ayers-bass, guitar, vocals, Mike Ratledge-organ and Robert Wyatt-drums, vocals. They played many shows and built an audience in “swinging London” and beyond. A link with Jimi Hendrix’s management culminated in the Softs touring the USA with the Jimi Hendrix Experience two different times in 1968, playing over 60 shows as their opening act and recording their first album while in the USA during their touring, after which the band collapsed and disbanded...temporarily. Middle Earth Masters captures the 1967-era Soft Machine trio in full concert glory, recorded live at London's legendary Middle Earth club. The performance is unbelievably freaky for 1967, with songs that feature unusual structures linked by wild solos and improvisations. Those of you who know and love the first Soft Machine album will be amazed at how much more insane and insanely loud the band actually were and also surprised to hear that Mike Ratledge was doing the crazy solo fuzz organ parts (ala the opening of Facelift) in 1967. Includes rare, previously unissued photographs and a short essay by Michael King about these tapes and his work to make them sound as good as possible.
IMPORTANT: The source tapes for this CD were recorded using semi-pro equipment under difficult conditions, at extreme volume in a concrete basement. Considering their age, their rarity, and the techinical limitations of sound reinforcement of 40 years ago, we feel that the music presented is very enjoyable, but these recordings are not anywhere near present-day standards!
"Soft Machine were the grooviest, coolest psychedelic band of the era..."-Phil Manzanera.
The Soft Machine were one of England's original and best psychedelic bands, emerging out of the same "UFO Club" London scene at the same time as Pink Floyd. While the band would always undergo constant personnel and stylistic change, their best known lineup in their psychedelic days was the trio of Kevin Ayers-bass, guitar, vocals, Mike Ratledge-organ and Robert Wyatt-drums, vocals. They played many shows and built an audience in “swinging London” and beyond. A link with Jimi Hendrix’s management culminated in the Softs touring the USA with the Jimi Hendrix Experience two different times in 1968, playing over 60 shows as their opening act and recording their first album while in the USA during their touring, after which the band collapsed and disbanded...temporarily. Middle Earth Masters captures the 1967-era Soft Machine trio in full concert glory, recorded live at London's legendary Middle Earth club. The performance is unbelievably freaky for 1967, with songs that feature unusual structures linked by wild solos and improvisations. Those of you who know and love the first Soft Machine album will be amazed at how much more insane and insanely loud the band actually were and also surprised to hear that Mike Ratledge was doing the crazy solo fuzz organ parts (ala the opening of Facelift) in 1967. Includes rare, previously unissued photographs and a short essay by Michael King about these tapes and his work to make them sound as good as possible.
IMPORTANT: The source tapes for this CD were recorded using semi-pro equipment under difficult conditions, at extreme volume in a concrete basement. Considering their age, their rarity, and the techinical limitations of sound reinforcement of 40 years ago, we feel that the music presented is very enjoyable, but these recordings are not anywhere near present-day standards!