RELEASED ON 31.5.2024 ON RUNEIFORM VIA SHELLSHOCK
CATALOGUE NUMBER RUNE530
Elton Dean alto sax, saxello, Hohner pianet
Hugh Hopper bass
Mike Ratledge Hohner pianet, Lowrey Holiday Deluxe organ, Fender Rhodes
Robert Wyatt drums, vocals
This well recorded and carefully mastered set captures the most famous version of the band
(the 'classic quartet') on their final European tour on two consecutive nights on February 27
and 28, 1971. While the two sets from the second night (February 28, 1971) have been released
before, this is the first time that the entire two-night stand has been released. So half of this
is previously completely unreleased.
This is an excellent, stereo recording of the band performing in a relatively small hall; the
volume balance between the instruments is not perfect, but there is no other recording by
Soft Machine that I know of that sounds as much like the band are performing right in front
of you! Additionally, we were able to improve in a modest way the not-perfect balance
between the instruments on this edition. The result is, in the words of the late Michael King,
who released the Sunday concert on his Reel Recordings label in 2009, "demonstrably the
finest recording of the classic Soft Machine quartet ever committed to tape."
Soft Machine's two concerts at the Henie-Onstad Art Center near Oslo, Norway, in late
February 1971 were special in several respects. The circumstances, of course, were unusual...
in a museum space, as part of an art exhibition by the Boyle Family, and Mark Boyle's films
were projected during the performances. But more significantly, both shows were recorded,
and superbly at that, providing a rare glimpse into how, at this stage in the band's existence,
the music could change significantly from one night to the next, even when the setting didn't.
CD 1/LP1 - February 27, 1971 [1st set]
Facelift
Virtually
Slightly All the Time
Fletcher’s Blemish
CD 2/LP2 - February 27, 1971 [2nd set]
Neo-Caliban Grides
Out-Bloody-Rageous
Vocal Improvisation
Eamonn Andrews
All White
Kings and Queens
Teeth
Pigling Bland
CD 3/LP3 - February 28, 1971 [1st set]
Facelift
Virtually
Slightly All the Time
Fletcher’s Blemish
CD 4 /LP4- February 28, 1971 [2nd set]
Neo-Caliban Grides
Out-Bloody-Rageous
Vocal Improvisation
Eamonn Andrews
All White
Kings and Queens
Teeth
Pigling Bland
Slightly All the Time [encore]