The "Leagacy" of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 03/03/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Like their studio album, this 92-minute live set -- recorded 3 months later in Paris -- serves as an unpremeditated epitaph for Elton Dean who unexpectedly passed away just 5 weeks later.
He was in fine form, as lyrical and melancholy as ever. The rest of the band (John Etheridge, Hugh Hopper & John Marshall, consummate professionals all) play an easy blend of updated Soft Machine tunes and Softish originals with Etheridge again providing the highlights, with subtle echo and fuzz effects boxes adding a distinctly 'moderne' sound to these old chestnuts. The band was really starting to gell as a working unit. One hopes (against hope) that the Legacy will find a way to continue, either with a new reedman or as a trio.
The recording quality is astonishingly good (Marshall's drums especially -- which sound better than any of his studio recordings!) with great stereo separation, full spectrum sound and a silent house (except for polite applause between songs).
By the way, this set was also filmed for DVD.
Late Note: Theo Travis (saxes & flute) has been drafted in to fill Elton's massive shoes. Good luck to him, I'd love to see this lineup make a go of it."
Soft Machine Leagacy
Donald G. Kumpf | Peoria, Illinois USA | 09/19/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you know who Soft Machine is and you've liked there past material, you'll like this. This CD set is not a "greatest hits", it's most of the origional members playing live. Good stuff."