Third by Soft Machine

Third,  Soft Machine's third album, is an absolute masterpiece, one of the most important albums of the "Canterbury Scene" and (personal note) my favorite by this band.

It's experimental jazz-rock in a splendid fusion of genres, an innovative instrumental work with complex compositions. Probably the band's pinnacle, with Mike Ratledge's excellent organ and Robert Wyatt's fresh approach to vocals and percussion.

It's approximately 75 minutes long on double vinyl, featuring four long compositions, one on each side, each lasting around 19 minutes, and just one vocal track, the masterpiece "Moon in June," in which Wyatt uses his voice like a musical instrument.

The songs aren't easy to digest, especially "Facelift." For those who aren't fans of the genre, my favorite is "Out Bloody Rageous." But they're all rare gems, made of fantastic improvisations bordering on fusion within a progressive framework.

The horns are beautiful, enriching each piece with true virtuosity. "Facelift," the opening track, recorded live, and "Slightly All the Time," which features a jazz theme with complex tempo variations, are gems.

The lineup is monstrous, with three of them hailing from the early days of the Canterbury Scene, The  Wilde Flowers (Hopper, Wyatt, and Ratledge), who have gone on to create solo projects or crucial collaborations, along with Elton Dean, who also played in  King Crimson.

A landmark album in progressive and jazz-rock, an album that in terms of importance to the Canterbury Scene is on par (in my opinion) with Hatfield & the North.

Masterpiece!

Tracklist
1. Facelift (18:54)
2. Slightly All the Time (18:14):
- Slightly All the Time
- Noisette
- Backwards
- Slightly All the Time (reprise)
3. Moon in June (19:18)
4. Out-Bloody-Rageous (19:17)
Running Time 75:43

LineUp
- Mike Ratledge - Lowrey organ, piano, Hohner pianos
- Elton Dean - alto saxophone, saxophone
- Hugh Hopper - bass
- Robert Wyatt - drums, vocals, piano, Hammond and bass (3)
Featuring
- Lyn Dobson - flute and soprano saxophone (1)
- Nick Evans - trombone (2,4)
- Jimmy Hastings - flute and bass clarinet (2,4)
- Rab Spall - electric violin (3)

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.