Release date: 7.9.2018
Label: Dyad Records
Production: John Etheridge and Theo Travis
Length: 60:21
Genre: jazz rock fusion
Rating: 9.5/10
After thirty-seven years, »Hidden Details« finally gives us a new studio album from Canterbury scene legends Soft Machine, a band that for decades seemed destined to live on only in the fond memories of the most devoted fans of the golden age of progressive rock and jazz rock fusion. Their last studio effort, »Land of Cockayne«, came out way back in 1981. Three years later they fell apart, then resurfaced in various guises, live and in the studio, all tied to the great Soft Machine legacy. Between 2004 and 2015 they operated as Soft Machine Legacy, though the ‘Legacy’ tag was never really necessary, since there were no problems whatsoever with the rights to the original name of this legendary band.
The current lineup, made up of guitarist John Etheridge, bassist Roy Babbington, drummer John Marshall (three Soft Machine members from the 1970s) and saxophonist/flautist Theo Travis, finally dropped the ‘Legacy’ tag in 2016 and decided to record a new studio album for the band’s fiftieth anniversary. Even though not a single original member is left, no other incarnation in Soft Machine history has played together as long as this one, which means they know each other’s songwriting and instrumental strengths inside out.
»Hidden Details« is a seriously ambitious project, packed with many of the musical qualities that made Soft Machine one of the most revered names on the progressive rock and jazz fusion scene in the early seventies. Thanks to the distinctly retro production, you can feel plenty of stylistic influences from the seventies, especially from the period when Babbington first joined them, but at the same time the album sounds surprisingly modern and refreshing in places. It consists mostly of new compositions, with the exception of »The Man Who Waved at Trains«, a rearranged version of a classic from »Bundles« (1975), and a heavily shortened, rearranged version of »Third« (1970) evergreen »Out Bloody Rageous«, probably the best-known Soft Machine piece from their jazz rock era.
Among the most interesting and ambitious pieces is definitely the title track, which doubles as the opener. Thanks mainly to Travis’s brooding saxophone arrangements, it comes across as unusually dark and at times even recalls certain King Crimson and Van der Graaf Generator numbers from the first half of the seventies. Travis, who incidentally ‘dusts off’ a phenomenal sax solo too, can really be called the central instrumentalist of the title track. It’s great to hear the older members giving his saxophone so much room. Travis’s performance is followed by an Etheridge guitar solo that will delight all fans of jazz rock guitar heroes. Of comparable guitarists, Etheridge’s technique is most reminiscent of John McLaughlin.
»Ground Lift« is a noticeably more avant-garde, free jazz-flavored piece with plenty of obscure improvisations, and proof that these gentlemen of venerable age have by no means gone ‘soft’ in the 21st century. »Heart Off Guard« is the complete opposite of its predecessor, with gentle, pastoral acoustic guitar arrangements that give it a light folk touch, plus a dreamy sax solo. »Broken Hill« has a distinctly nostalgic mood, thanks to melancholic guitar passages and subtle percussion touches. The short »Flight of the Jett« is built from Marshall’s percussion improvisations and interesting guitar effects. »One Glove«, with its mix of exceptionally subtle, technically polished guitar passages, a stunningly eclectic rhythm section and ominous sax moments, is one of the highlights of »Hidden Details«.
»Drifting White« is a solo guitar overture to the improvisational stew that is »Life on Bridges«, where elements of avant-garde and free jazz once again step into the spotlight and near-total instrumental chaos reigns once more. »Fourteen Hour Dream«, steeped in mysterious ambient textures and energetic, highly eclectic flute arrangements, is also among the most interesting moments of the album. The strongly ambient »Breathe« makes for a fairly serene finale, while the bonus track »Night Sky« is every bit as good as the rest of the songs on the album.
Soft Machine are back! Along with Gryphon’s new record, »Hidden Details« is another big surprise of 2018: a hugely successful comeback studio album from a legendary prog rock band we thought would never set foot in a studio again. It strikes just the right mix of old and proven with new and refreshing, so older and slightly younger fans of these legendary English masters of jazz rock fusion will both love it.
review by: Peter Podbrežnik
Track list:
1. Hidden Details (7:36)
2. The Man Who Waved At Trains (5:00)
3. Ground Lift (5:21)
4. Heart Off Guard (2:29)
5. Broken Hill (3:49)
6. Flight Of The Jett (2:12)
7. One Glove (4:30)
8. Out Bloody Intro (2:41)
9. Out Bloody Rageous, Part 1 (4:56)
10. Drifting White (1:47)
11. Life On Bridges (8:05)
12. Fourteen Hour Dream (6:24)
13. Breathe (5:31)
Bonus track:
14. Night Sky (3:19)
Soft Machine:
John Eheridge – electric and acoustic guitar, production
Roy Babbington – bass guitar
John Marshall – drums, percussion
Theo Travis – tenor and soprano sax, flute, Fender Rhodes piano, production
Guest musician:
Nick Utteridge – sound effects (13)
