Could anyone give me some info on the band Softmachine?

[jurren]

Keep seeing the name of this (synth-rock) band show up in Madlib interviews, which got me curious.

Can anyone tell me if they are actually any good? Anything i could compare them to? What albums should i look out for, songs, side-projects, etcetera? The same goes for another band he mentioned, which i suspect is somewhat similar: Gentle Giant.

Thanks,

Jurren

[djyoavb]

one of the leading groups of the canterbury scene
(amongs bands like Gong and Caravan),
led by drummer/singer Robert Wyaat (yes THE robert wyatt, b4 his accident).
were together from mid 60s till mid 70s, combined pop and kinda soul with more prog rock attitude...
they r quite known... what else u wanna know?

oh they r just great!

[jurren]

thanks yoav.

any records in particular i should keep an eye out for? or a good record to start with?

just saw that this record is related to them, worth picking up?

[altrrdst8]

they are in my top three bands of all time.

extremely original deep psycadelic powerful rock and roll.

I was listening to there 69ish peel session (john RIP) yesterday. true pioneers. and complete musical head-cases.

see: http://connect.to/softmachine
http://www.strongcomet.com/wyatt/softs/

I have loads of MP3s if you want to hear a couple use my MSN messenger tb_303@hotmail.com and ill share a few with you so you can make your mind up before u decide to buy. They are not to every1s taste.

altrrdst8

[altrrdst8]

Volumes 1 and 2 (2 albums) are the best for me. nonstop journeys through improv jazz fusion and awesome RnR.
They supported Jimi on tour and I have an MP3 of one song where Jimi guests on bass


WHY WHY WHYYYY WHY ARE WE SLEEPING ?

st8

[ October 28, 2004, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: altrrdst8 ]

[jurren]

ok thanks!
will stop by my local 2nd hand vinyl pusher over the weekend.

the sleeve to volume 2 looks great btw



[ October 28, 2004, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: jurren ]

[djyoavb]

exact, those lps r great, i was kinda in a rush when i posted b4, they also combined jazz ands psychedalia in their music, and it's very very warm. good u mentioned em, didn't listen for a while [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[altrrdst8]

ill post a wee clip when i get home.

st8

[jurren]

[Woodstock]

The 'Soft weed factor' LP is dope - probably the best thing I've picked up this year.
Do a search on google or sumthin like that, there's loads of info online.

[FK]

Will contribute when time permits.

Fantastic band. Lots to tell...

FK

[jurren]

[cough]BUMP[/cough]

[e2e4]

First contact with them was as a little kid(like 4 years old) somehow I was fascinated by this cover:


and with the music too, was one of my favorite lps out of my daddys stash. Nowadays I've most of the records myself ;)
And if you like Softmachine, check out Ian Carr's Nucleus too...

[JMNYC]

Just stumbled on this:
BBC documentary on Robert Wyatt of Soft Machine

[Number Two]

I have been getting back into prog rock lately and got this from my favorite prog rock site. Peace.

[O'love]

softmachine!! cool, my favorite is "Softs" .... lights down, burn some candles and incense, and off you go ;)

Olaf