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Bundles by Soft Machine, from 1975
I have talked a lot about this great band on many occasions, both in the reviews of their albums and also regarding their history in the page dedicated to them and in the pages dedicated to the Wilde Flowers and the Matching Mole but it is worth remembering that they are a pillar of British avant-garde music, founders and the highest expression of the Canterbury scene. The band was formed in 1966 and from that moment they led the evolution from psychedelic rock to progressive rock, eventually becoming pioneers of jazz-fusion.
This is an innovative jazz-rock and fusion album for its time, probably the band's peak after the Robert Wyatt era, thanks to the extraordinary guitar of Allan Holdsworth with a Karl Jenkins masterful with excellent arrangements and great production.
The addition of guitarist Allan Holdsworth to the lineup is fundamental with his great virtuoso technique and his innovative rock-oriented style and together with Jenkins, who takes on the role of composer and mastermind of the group, taking over the leadership from Mike Ratledge, makes it a technically superb album, a benchmark for 1970s jazz-rock.
The suite Hazard Profile, divided into five parts, is one of the highlights of their production, alternating moments of intensity led by the guitar with more atmospheric sections dominated by keyboards.
The album's closing with The Floating World instead introduces ambient and minimalist sounds, in great contrast to the previous tracks.
It is not a masterpiece like "Third", but it is an album that absolutely must be in your collection. Allan Holdsworth's guitar solo in "Hazard profile" is beautiful and breathtakingly engaging. Ratledge always in great shape. Jenkins with the winds and his unique atmospheres. A great band and an excellent record.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS below the article title or on the "Artists" page
Tracklist
1. Hazard Profile, Part 1 (9:18)
2. Hazard Profile, Part 2 (2:21)
3. Hazard Profile, Part 3 (1:05)
4. Hazard Profile, Part 4 (0:46)
5. Hazard Profile, Part 5 (5:29)
6. Gone Sailing (0:59)
7. Bundles (3:14)
8. Land of the Bag Snake (3:35)
9. The Man Who Waved at Trains (1:50)
10. Peff (1:57)
11. Four Gongs Two Drums (4:09)
12. The Floating World (7:12)
Duration 41:55
LineUp
- Allan Holdsworth - acoustic, electric and 12-string guitar
- Mike Ratledge - Fender Rhodes, Lowrey organ, AKS synthesizer
- Karl Jenkins - oboe, soprano saxophone, acoustic and electric pianos
- Roy Babbington - bass
- John Marshall - drums, percussion
With:
- Ray Warleigh - alto and bass flutes (12)
