Soft Machine - Thirteen - New 2LP

Whilst the line-up of Soft Machine may have changed many times since the heady 
days of the late 1960s, the band's spirit of musical adventure, and the ease with which 
it freely avoids being pigeonholed has stayed a constant - as it moves from powerful 
progressive jazz rock to atmospheric psychedelia to free improvised jazz to ambient 
loop music.
'Thirteen' features legendary guitarist John Etheridge , who has been with the band 
over 50 years and is once again in superb form. Whilst all four members of the band 
contribute compositions, the album's main composer is saxophonist, fautist and 
keyboard player Theo Travis, who wrote six of the album's thirteen tracks. The newest 
member of the group is drummer and composer Asaf Sirkis.
The album is incredibly broad in its breadth and scope. Tracks include "Open Road" a 
rocky track which sees the band soaring on all burners with fery solos by both 
Etheridge and Travis; the ballad "Disappear", which starts with ethereal looped futes 
and develops into a beautiful piano led and drum less miniature. "Turmoil", penned by 
bassist Fred Thelonious Baker, brims with deranged fuzz bass, manic solos and an 
almost unhinged clamour. "Daevid's Special Cuppa" sees a cameo by founder member 
Daevid Allen (his guitar part being recorded years earlier, and the track built around it).
On 'Thirteen' Soft Machine has never sounded more adventurous.