Soft Machine - 13 2 LP Set Due 13th March

The album of superlative new material, marks a fresh chapter in the group's 60-year 
history. 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, flautist 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 fiery solos by both 
Etheridge and Travis; the ballad "Disappear", which starts with ethereal looped flutes 
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

1. Lemon Poem Song 
2. Open Road 
3. Seven Hours 
4. Waltz For Robert 
5. The Longest Night 
6. Disappear 
7. Green Books 
8. Beledo Balado 
9. Pens To The Foal Mode 
10. Time Station 
11. Which Bridge Did You Cross 
12. Turmoil 
13. Daevid's Special Cuppa
14. Carol Ann  
15. Curious Dust  
16. Tarn Hows  
17. Seven Hours (Alt take)  
18. We Thought It Was Tuesday