Seven

After the pretty directionless Fifth and Six, the band is starting to get back on track, but the flaws are still noticeable. It features some smooth groovy bangers like Carol Ann, Day's Eye or Penny Hitch, but it couldn't run away from some filler like the pretty bland D.I.S. or the final two tracks that serve no purpose. Karl Jenkins is definitely a great saxophonist and an okay writer but he's no Elton Dean and no Robert Wyatt. A solid predecessor to Bundles but it pales in ... read more

By the time Seven was released, Mike Ratledge was the last remaining member of Soft Machine’s original lineup. And unfortunately, that shows. While there’s still some solid playing here, the album largely feels like an awkward attempt to keep the Soft Machine spirit alive.

The departure of bassist Hugh Hopper marks a turning point, not just in the band’s sound, but also in its spirit. With Hopper gone, the raw, experimental edge that defined much of the band’s earlier ... read more