Release of live 1970 performance of the mother of all prog bands: Bad-assed searing overdriven keys and guitars, yet lush complex jazz rhythms and sexy sax like a Cannonball Adderly/Coltrane on LSD (instead of heroin). These guys defined the word “hipster” in the late 60’s fusing jazz and psyche and rock, coming out of the same scene as early Pink Floyd, heavily influencing Miles Davis forever and inventing what became “prog” (not to be confused with what was/is bastardized by many a fern bar band). The commercial smash success of bands like Yes and Kansas owe a nod. But back to Miles Davis: include Weather Report, all things John McLaughlin to the mix. Okay, listen and you’ll hear what is certainly the holy grail to more contemporary bands like Tortoise, Crime in Choir, nay all things “post-rock”. Robert Wyatt, the bands founder, also has a stellar solo career that lives to this day, contributing also to the London post-punk Rough Trade Records scene (is there anything this guy wasn’t on the forefront of?). See also Wyatt’s other early 70’s prog-rock project Matching Mole (the name of which is actually an english bastardization of “Soft Machine” in French). I really cant say enough about anything related to Soft Machine, they are right at the top of the list of the greatest innovators of modern music today. Interesting note: Wyatt fell off a balcony in the mid 70’s and ended up in a wheelchair. So he switched from drums and his enormous wealth of solo work since is piano/guitar based.

1) classic epic track, maybe their best known with an epic pensive hook/refrain that sounds like something Pink Floyd would’ve used, breaks down and leads quietly into next track
2) quiet meanderings to start, after 3.5 min kicks into a more familiar upbeat “jazz” feel, chills out again toward end
3) mid paced, meandering feel breaks down at end
4) starts with a free-jazz improv feel but becomes stellar sax blowing
5) upbeat, jazzy
6) starts with chill keys, drums, very jazzy, midway guitar sears through, very nice bass solo at end that is subtle as breeze, beautiful
7) brief, bass solo, searing keys
8) upbeat jamming, smoking stuff, bad assed distortion, good 30 seconds of audience applause at end
9) beautiful crazy synth all over a classic floating rhythm