Name: Third
Brand: Soft Machine

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

82876872932

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2007-02-19

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Sony

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

887654499226

Total Cap

2 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

MOVLP183

Black

2022-07-22

Little Amber Fish

8713748981570

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2 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Soft Machine

Genre GB

Psychedelic

Label GB

Soft Machine is an English rock and jazz band from Canterbury, formed in mid-1966. The band was named after the novel "The Soft Machine" by William S. Burroughs. Led by Australian artist Daevid Allen, the group was influenced by the emerging Beat Generation and the music philosophies of Sun Ra. They started as a free-jazz outfit called the Daevid Allen Trio before evolving into Soft Machine with members Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge, and Kevin Ayers. Their eponymous album released in 1968 is considered a classic of the late 1960s psychedelic era.

The band gained popularity on London's psychedelic scene and performed at various iconic venues such as The Marquee and UFO club. They also took part in notable events like the '14 Hour Technicolor Dream' alongside Pink Floyd and Velvet Underground. Despite several lineup changes over the years, Soft Machine continued to push boundaries with their experimental sound.

Today, Soft Machine remains active with current members John Etheridge on guitar, Theo Travis on saxophone/flute/piano, Fred T. Baker on bass (since 2022), and Asaf Sirkis on drums (since 2023). Their music continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of rock and jazz influences.

Back In Stock

Soft Machine released their third album Third in 1970. It is a double album with each side of the vinyl consisting of a single long composition. Its music explores the emerging Jazz Fusion of the type present on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, which was released just a few months earlier.

Third marks the most major of Soft Machine's several shifts in musical genre over their career, completing their transition from psychedelic music to Jazz. It is a significant milestone of the Canterbury scene, featuring interplay between the band's personnel: Mike Ratledge on keyboards, Robert Wyatt on drums, Hugh Hopper on bass and newest member Elton Dean on saxophone.

Third

Music GB