SOFT MACHINE – Floating World / Drop – reissues / review

SOFT MACHINE – Floating World / Drop – reissues / review
MoonJune Records

Delighted to report that I’m not old enough to remember the original 1975 “Floating World”. The 2006 reissue, yes. However, I am delighted at reacquainting myself with this and “Drop”, as both feature the recently departed Mike Ratledge, a fella who thought “aye, I’ve done what I need to do”, left the band, and never played with them again, moving into the world of soundtracks, theatre and programming.

Ratledge was the only founder member left when “Floating World” was recorded for Radio Bremen in January 1975, but jazzbos will flock here due to the presence of guitarist Allan Holdsworth. It also features bassist Roy Babbington, drummer John Marshall and multi-instrumentalist Karl Jenkins. Yes, that one. There’s some really scary stuff going on here. The kind of twists and turns that will leave unbelievers cowering in the corner, being gently coaxed out with the promise of a Crème Egg.

A lot of the tunes are from the previous years “Bundles”, so there’s plenty to interest the jazz fusion fans here. Now, I can take it or leave it. Some of the worst people I’ve ever met, swear by jazz fusion, so it really has to be top drawer stuff, to lure me in. And this is. There’s very little here for fans of their original sound but as pioneers of the fusion style, they really hit home, hard. Tremendous stuff.

Even less chance of me remembering the 1971 “Drop” show, which sees Mr Ratledge joined by Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, and Phil Howard. The latter was only around for four months or so but, my goodness, that fella knew how to work his way round a drum kit. Ridiculous.

This was recorded early on in their transition towards the later fusion sound, so we’re in “Third / Fourth” world. Which is a fine place. Some of the improvisation here would be enough to ensure that pretenders hung up there instruments, in dismay. It’s nice to hear Elton Dean holding back a wee bit, as some later recordings saw him performing separately from the band but the likes of ‘Slightly All The Time’ see his horny horns in full effect.

Given its origin, “Drop” doesn’t sound as clean as “Floating World“, but musically, it’s a winner.

https://moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com/