SOFT MACHINE
Acapela Studio,
Pentyrch, Wales

22nd February 2024

Lineage:
Sound Professionals SP-CMC-9 cardioids > SP-SPSB-20 > Edirol R-07 (@24/96) > Cool Edit Pro 2 > CDWave > TLH

Recorded 25' back, in line with house right speaker

Recording, transfer and artwork by boombox

Disc 1 - Set 1:
1. Set 1 Introduction
2. Facelift
3. Banter
4. Burden Of Proof
5. Banter
6. The Dew At Dawn
7. Fell To Earth
8. Banter
9. The Tale Of Taliesin
10. The Stars Apart
11. Band History & Introductions
12. Fourteen Hour Dream
13. Gesolreut

Disc 2 - Set 2:
1. Set 2 Introduction
2. Penny Hitch
3. Banter
4. Other Doors
5. The Visitor At The Window
6. Banter
7. Joy Of A Toy
8. Banter
9. Kings & Queens
10. Banter
11. 10.30 Returns To The Bedroom > Middleburn > Hidden Details > Hazard Profile Part One
12. Thanks
13. Backwards > Noisette

Soft Machine are:
John Etheridge - guitar
Theo Travis - saxes, flutes & keyboards
Fred Thelonious Baker - bass
Asaf Sirkis - drums

boombox's notes march 2024:
This is without doubt one of the best shows I have ever seen at Acapela - and I go there a lot! Everything combined to provide a wonderful evening - musicianship off the scale, great sound and lights and an appreciative audience. John and Theo were on excellent form, well rested due to their cancelled Brighton gig and having had a relaxed shopping trip to Cardiff to buy new trainers. Of course, I was worried about seeing the band without Roy Babbington, who has had to retire due to ill health, and the late, much-lamented John Marshall, but the new rhythm section? Fred is a worthy addition to the ranks, handling all the complex time changes with great aplomb, even the bass solo that is 'Joy Of A Toy' from the first album. As for Asaf, on John Marshall's drums no less, his solo in the 10.30 Medley was wonderful to watch and hear - powerful, but really smooth, for want of a better word. The setlist was varied, drawing on all periods of the band, who are truly alive and kicking and the new album too is probably one of the best introductions to the band you'll get, especially with the revisits to a number of old favourites on there.

Despite what I thought was going to be a less than ideal taping position, the recording came out very well indeed. I had to reduce some loud applause from a nearby table and excise two short bouts of taper coughing during applause, but other than boosting the mids a little and bringing up the volume level, that was about it. Some of the banter was off mic, so it's a little quiet at times, but I wasn't going to mess with the levels and ruin the dynamic range.

This was the last night of the current tour, which was beset with visa and venue issues, so if you enjoyed this, please go out and support the band at future shows and buy the merch so they can keep doing what they do.

















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