Search - Soft Machine :: Live in France

Very precious live recording...

Denis (dkirchhoff@hotmail.com) | Sao Paulo, Brazil | 11/02/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who likes Soft machine has to have this album...although all recordings are mono it still has a great quality and captures the real essence of Soft Machine: improvise....Almost 2 hours of real music with Elton Dean on sax and Rhodes piano, Hugh Hopper on bass, Mike Ratledge on electric piano and organ and John Marshall on drums...."

Solid Stuff

Slave | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | 12/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have a problem with Elton Dean on this one... he seems disconnected from the rest of the band. He ends up leaving the band by the end of the month too. He wasnt the most consistant player either. Missing his parts on various tracks and such. Anyway... this is a mono recording but it's moot because the sound quality is most excellent. The performances are a little uninspired at times but overall a great document for this period. A bit of a rare recording I say so worth buy for Softs fans. I am a fan of the Wyatt era and this is a transition period to better stuff. In my opinion the next incarnation of the band made for more energy with Karl Jenkins. OH! Yah... sort of a sin to say from a Wyatt era fan."

A great Soft Machine concert!!! It's Out Bloody Rageous!!!

Jason Pumphrey | Falls Church, Virginia United States | 12/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great mid career Soft Machine concert!!! This being a great performance in France!!! 12 great live trax in all!!! Lots of improvisation here!!! Lot's of the Soft's signature works are here including: Facelift,All White,Slightly All The Time,M.C,Drop,Out Bloody Rageous,but the real highlight of this concert is the triple whammy of As If, LBO(one of the coolest drum solos on the face of the Earth,and much,much longer and better than the version on "5", which is no slouch either)and Pigling Bland!!! Hugh Hopper,John Marshall,Mike Ratledge,and Elton Dean definately in peak form on this recording!!! A truly top notch package!!! Two thumbs up!!! A+"