Soft Machine: Thirteen

For anyone unfamiliar with Soft Machine (shame on you if you are), this is a band that has morphed both sonically and with various personnel over the course of their 60-year existence. They’ve traveled the road of psychedelia, Canterbury, Fusion, and are an important and influential band in the cannon of rock history. Embracing the spirit of experimentalism and adventure is the keystone of their music.

Their latest release Thirteen

I’m immediately greeted with the wonderful guitar work of John Ethridge as a subtle electric keyboard motif lies in the background, which belies the aggressive rhythm section driving the opening “Lemon Poem Song�. The haunting keyboard riff that runs through “Open Road� is drenched in mellotron, this is how you set a mood. Theo Travis lets his saxophone do the talking, urgent, emotive, and perfectly accompanied by swirling Hammond organ. As one of the tracks currently available prior to the official release date, they made a wise choice to give fans a taste of what they have to look forward to. If something more avant/experimental is your cup of tea, tracks such as “Seven Hours� and “Pens to the Foal Mode� will satisfy that craving with their exploratory nature. Travis brings the flute out for the soothing “Waltz for Robert�, and it gets paired with organ and guitar for “The Longest Night�, which evolves into a spacey ripping guitar jam, and continues to unveil many layers over the course of its Thirteen-minute length. “Green Books� brings a fusion vibe with the electric keys and guitar/sax dueling, Etheridge really flexes his muscle on this one. If I haven’t told you how much I dig guitarist John Etheridge, then let me just say, he’s a monster, listening to him play during “Beledo Balado� is a treat, a simple yet beautiful song that he takes to another level. Ex-Soft Machine Alum Daevid Allen has a cameo on the closing “Daevid’s Special Cuppa� from a guitar part recorded years ago, the band builds a haunting hypnotic motif in support.

Thirteen features a broad spectrum of music; there is something for everyone. I love it when the band lets loose, they play with such intensity on certain tracks, that’s what hits the spot for me. At the same time, I appreciate their varied sonic explorations, give Thirteen a listen, and I think you’ll agree this band has a lot left to offer.

Favorite Tracks: Open Book, The Longest Night, Green Book

Track Listing
1. Lemon Poem Song
2. Open Road
3. Seven Hours
4. Waltz for Robert
5. The Longest Night
6. Disappear
7. Green Books
8. Balado Beledo
9. Pens to the Foal Mode
10. Time Station
11. Which Bridge Did You Cross
12. Turmoil
13. Daevid’s Special Cuppa

Added: February 24th 2026
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 212
Language: english

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