Search - Soft Machine :: Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971

Northern Exposures

Steven Moore | Ann Arbor, MI USA | 12/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're asking yourself if you need to buy yet another live Soft Machine album--seems like there's a new one every year--the answer in this case is yes, mostly because of the superior sonic quality. This sounds like it was carefully recorded in a studio, not taped live in Norway, except that Dean's saxes aren't quite as forward in the mix as they might be. Each disc contains one long, 40-minute track--there are no song titles, though it's the same repertoire SM was playing in early 1971--with an encore on the second disk. The first set is meditative, exploratory, taking more liberty than usual with the melodies, and includes one of Dean's most demented saxello solos during "Slightly All the Time." The second set/disk is a little more aggressive, and features a some singing by Wyatt (not a song, just scatting). There's also a CD-ROM enclosed with some documentary material. So yes, if you're a Machinehead, you need to buy this."

Vintage Softs

J. Covington | USA, Houston,TX | 01/01/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is another interesting document of the 'classic' Soft Machine lineup (Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Hugh Hopper & Elton Dean). The sound quality is very good considering it was recorded on a reel-to-reel machine at 7.5 ips. It contains some of the music from Third and Fourth. As indicated by other reviewers, there are two music CD's and a CDROM with information about the group and the gig. The inner sleeve contains a short blurb from an individual who attended the concert and called it a 'life altering experience'. As a fan who can never get enough Soft Machine, I highly recommend this set."

Fanstatic set

Joseph L. Kolb | harris, mn USA | 12/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"yes, another live soft machine cd (actually 3 discs). and yes, it is another flawless set with ratledge, dean, hopper and wyatt. the recording is top quality and beautifully recorded. it's amazing this stuff is being released now, rather than when it first was done. maybe the band would of made some money. if there is a complaint, it is the shortness of time. disc 1 is 33 minutes and 2 is 52 minutes. and would of like more liner notes too. other than that, if you liked soft machine third, then this disc is definately for you!"