Soft Machine: Third LP

Soft Machine emerged from the Canterbury underground in 1967 with an original line-up of Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Mike Ratledge. By the end of the decade, they had become one of the most important names in progressive rock, known for ambitious records and groundbreaking live shows at venues such as the UFO Club and Middle Earth. After two albums on ABC/Probe, the band signed to CBS with a line-up featuring Wyatt, Ratledge, saxophonist Elton Dean and bassist Hugh Hopper. Their 1970 release is widely considered both their most successful album and a landmark in progressive music. Moving away from their psychedelic beginnings, the record embraces jazz and electronic elements, unfolding across four expansive side-long compositions that remain among the most daring and acclaimed works of the era.