Search - Soft Machine :: Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris

CLASSIC JAZZ-ROCK FUSION

10/29/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In my opinion, along with BrandX and ColosseumII the Bundles/Softs lineup of Soft Machine were the best of 1970's fusion and at least the equal of any of the rated American groups. With this live C.D. the typical energetic,dynamic Softs style is augmented with the addition of a violin player(Rick Sanders)complementing the great John Marshall(drums) and the hugely under-rated John Etheridge(guitar). The Karl Jenkins compositions are again impressive and Steve Cooke(bass)cooks(excuse the pun)up a storm with John Marshall which really powers the outfit along. Certainly Odds Bullets and Blades;Puffin and Huffin are lively exciting pieces which provide the highlights in what is overall a very impressive effort. The only reasons I have not given it 5 stars are that the last track,Soft Space,is rather disco-ish and the mix seems rather flat sonically with a lack of space and "air" to the sound. But if high quality musicianship, inventiveness and originality are required in your listening do yourself a favour and listen to this."

The Fractal Effect

Julian Boyce | Singapore, - Singapore | 03/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If intelligent fusion is your thing - and it must be if you've accessed this particluar band and this very web page, then you can chill out to some of the best live fusion EVER (excepting Brand X, Mahavisnu Orchestra and Weather Report), with this understated SM masterpiece. Why the fractal effect? Because one slice of sound leads into another wider echo, and into another wider echo until, before you know it, you've gotta turn the vinyl over (thank God for the cd), and stay mesmerized until the end. Apart from Karl Jenkins (who's got all pretentious these last few years with soft new age), you'll also discover the superb John Marshall on drums and, for me, one of the best jazz-rock guitarists EVER: John Etheridge. In fact track 2 is practically a religious experience under the Etheridge fretwork that only the best of Holdsworth, McClaughlin and Metheny can equal. And while on the subject, check out 2nd Vision (also featuring John Etheridge and Ric Saunders>, for a superbsound charge into celtic/jazz/rock fusion."