Miles Davis - Agharta (1975)

Now that's a crazy album. Miles got more and more eccentric throughout the 1970s, and this album shows the total madness that was his concert at that time. 

Miles has often pointed out in interviews that the ensemble on this album was his favorite band. Playing rock with jazz musicians (Bitches Brew) served it's purpose for a while, but Miles wanted a band that could really rock, as well as play jazz, avant-garde and world music as well. The icing on the cake for Miles is that he finally found a guitar player who could do what the departed Jimi Hendrix could do, plus so much more.

This album finally brings together all the influences that Miles had been trying to bring together for years; Stockhausen's Asiatic suspended musical moments in time (moment form), Sly Stone's dramatic take it to the streets call to action world revolutionary party funk, searing acid rock guitar, Sun Ra's disciplined approach to group improvisation, Herbie Hancock's futuristic fusion and timeless classical music from Africa.
(js (Easy Money), Progarchives)




If you are captivated by free jazz, Can circa Tago Mago, early Tangerine Dream, spacey Sun Ra, Matching Mole or Zappa's more atonal extravaganzas, you may well be in hog heaven with this album but failing that, these air miles won't even refund your fare.
(ExittheLemming, Progarchives)

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Soft Machine Live at Paradiso 1969

"The drummer was also the band's vocalist, but not a singer with any ambitions of eclipsing Paul McCartney. I heard instead melodic conversations from someone who told strange tales of touring with Jimi Hendrix, and who concluded that living in the US is fine if you're white and like getting a suntan. These weren't songs with instrumental bridges so much as instrumentals with lyrical interludes."

Graham Bennett


"Soft Machine without woodwinds or electric guitars ? You are having a laugh !!!!
That was my first thought...... Then I started to listen to this album and I discovered a new dimension to one of my favorite bands. Something I did not think was possible.

Music wise, Robert Wyatt's vocals fills the space later to be occupied by woodwinds. His drumming is excellent too. Mike Ratledge is playing like a demon possessed and is the star on this live album. Hugh Hopper's bass is hovering menacing over and behind Mike Ratledge's keyboards."

toroddfuglesteg at Progarchives

This album is basically Soft Machine playing Volume 2 live. Wyatt still sang quite a lot, and his drum solo in the last track is devastating.

1. Hulloder (0:24)
2. Dada Was Here (8:21)
3. Thank You Pierrot Lunaire (0:45)
4. Have You Ever Been Green? (0:57)
5. Pataphysical Introduction Pt. II (1:00)
6. As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still (1:55)
7. Fire Engine Passing With Bells Clanging (2:17)
8. Hibou, Anemone And Bear (4:17)
9. Fire Engine Passing With Bells Clanging (reprise) (3:26)
10. Pig (4:21)
11. Orange Skin Food (0:15)
12. A Door Opens And Closes (1:18)
13. 10:30 Returns To The Beedroom (10:39)

- Mike Ratledge / electric piano, organ
- Hugh Hopper / bass
- Robert Wyatt / drums, vocals

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Soft Machine - Grides

A live album by Soft Machine, recorded at Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 25/10/1970, some months after their Third album was released. Very good sound quality.


Ratledge's keyboard work is amongst the best (if not the best), I've heard from him. It reminds me that his playing skills, a great ability to improv, and also move the band in explosively different directions, was never matched by those more famous prog keyboardists who never risked major changes from concert to concert.
(Dick Heath, Progarchives)






First Set (Concertgebouw, 25-10-70) - 79:12


1. Facelift (6:59)
2. Virtually (15:34)
3. Out-Bloody-Rageous (8:12)
4. Neo-Caliban Grides (10:12)
5. Teeth (8:03)
6. Slightly All The Time (10:34)
7. Eamonn Andrews (1:36)
8. Ester's Nose Job (11:22)
9. Slightly All The Time/Noisette (6:43)


- Elton Dean / alto saxophone, saxello, electric piano
- Hugh Hopper / electric bass
- Mike Ratledge / electric piano, organ
- Robert Wyatt / drums, voice




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Steve Hillage - Green (1978)

 It's not Pink Floyd because it's way too optimistic. Hillage was high on his new age vibes, and it really works for me. All of the delays and bells and weird riffs take me floating.
(from a commentary on a blog)



1 - Sea Nature
2 - Ether Ships
3 - Musick of the Trees
4 - Palm Trees (Love Guitar)
5 - Unidentified (Flying Being)
6 - U.F.O. over Paris
7 - Leylines to Glassdom
8 - Crystal City
9 - Activation Meditation
10 - The Glorious Om Riff

bonus tracks for CD release 2007
11 - Unidentified (Flying Being) – Live at Glastonbury 1979
12 - Not Fade Away (Glid Forever) – Live at The Rainbow Theatre 1977
13 - Octave Doctors – Live at Glastonbury 1979
14 - Meditation of the Snake [alternative mix]

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