Soft Machine � Fusion Steams Ahead

Venue: Kings Cross Cinema, London, England, 7th July 1972

Set list: As for much of their career Soft Machine played their entire set without pausing between numbers, weaving back and forth between themes. Suggestions for set list edit points are welcome.

Lineage: Cassette>Grundig Reel to Reel>Cassette>PC Soundcard>Audition>Audacity>FLAC Frontend Level 6. NR and EQ applied in Audition.

The sound quality is not untypical for an audience recording from the period, but NR and EQ have improved it considerably.

This Soft Machine gig is significant in that it was the band's first following the departure of Elton Dean and is Karl Jenkins debut live performance with Soft Machine (13) according to Graham Bennett's Soft Machine Family Tree in his biography of the band 'Out-Bloody-Rageous'. Originally scheduled for 17 June this gig was postponed until 7 July due to John Marshall's illness.

The line-up for the night at the Kings Cross Cinema was:

Mike Ratledge � Lowery Organ, Piano
Hugh Hopper � Bass
John Marshall � Drums
Karl Jenkins � Saxes, Piano, Oboe

This recording has never seen the light of day before and is from my collection of vintage tapings, this is it�s first release anywhere... after 35 years.

Duration: 48 minutes.

Originally uploaded to DIME by brainodrain on March 24, 2007. Thanks so much for sharing this gem.
Re-seed by propylaen on July 9, 2012.

Enjoy!