Soft Machine - Return to Forever

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Listening to Bundles, I thought of who would people prefer, Al Di Meola or Holdsworth in these years.
True, in Softs there's Etheridge instead of Holdsworth. So just vote for the pair of fusion albums you're more akin to. RtF's is more inclined towards funk, although veers also to some classical and prog, while Soft's guitar-fusion always was a dilemma for me, not knowing where to put them, other than "Soft Machine fusion" haha.

Poll Question: Which pair of albums do you prefer?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Bundles (1975), Softs (1976)	10	[76.92%]
No Mystery (1975), Romantic Warrior (1976)	3	[23.08%]
You can not vote in this poll

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Abraxas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List JMA Collaborator Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 1251	Post Options Post Reply Quote Abraxas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Soft Machine - Return to Forever Posted: 01 Oct 2012 at 5:54pm
	Listening to Bundles, I thought of who would people prefer, Al Di Meola or Holdsworth in these years. True, in Softs there's Etheridge instead of Holdsworth. So just vote for the pair of fusion albums you're more akin to. RtF's is more inclined towards funk, although veers also to some classical and prog, while Soft's guitar-fusion always was a dilemma for me, not knowing where to put them, other than "Soft Machine fusion" haha.

js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35348	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 2012 at 6:41pm
	Mid to Late 70s fusion is not my favorite, I always preferred the late 60s-early 70s period, but "No Mystery" is a fun eclectic record as I recall, although I haven't listened to it in a while, so my vote will go to RTF. As far as the guitar players in those bands, I always liked Bill Connors short tenure in RTF.

Kazuhiro Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Location: Tokyo, Japan Status: Offline Points: 3774	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kazuhiro Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 2012 at 7:30pm
	As a result, I went to Softs, but I did not like Softs where there was not Mike Ratledge very much. In any case because I am always a fan of Allan Holdsworth. The RTF album is splendid, but I will like RTF of the time when there was Bill Connors.

Abraxas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List JMA Collaborator Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 1251	Post Options Post Reply Quote Abraxas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 2012 at 8:47pm
	I'll go for Soft Machine. Even though clearly they began to sound more akin to Nucleus, where the keyboards are more laid back, it still is very enjoyable and well composed, especially Bundles. Softs has some killer stuff too. Even though I prefer the live versions of these tunes on British Tour 75. I've never liked No Mystery, find it pretty mediocre attempt of funk tunes and some forgettable piano and fusion. Romantic Warrior has some top-notch music, but overall not a favorite. I always say this, Where Have I Known You Before, for me is RtF's best fusion record. Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy is pretty good, but I think the production makes it all pretty samey.

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29717	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Oct 2012 at 1:42am
	Bundles and Softs are quite a good example how deep (English) rock musicians could dig towards jazz/fusion, and oppositely No Mystery and Romantic Warrior both are good example how far (American) jazz musicians can see rock as part of their music. All albums are not my farourites, RTF and Soft Machine do much better when play more organic music (for each of the band), probably RTF pair is still slightly better for me - as much as I like early (original) Soft Machine music,their mid 70s albums are usually technically skilled but quite faceless fuzzak ( Holdsworth gave them new blood but not new face when came to play) Edited by snobb - 02 Oct 2012 at 2:25am

Cannonball With Hat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member VIP Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Location: The Opium Den Status: Offline Points: 1212	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cannonball With Hat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Oct 2012 at 2:51pm
	Soft Machine for sure.
	Hit it on Five. Saxophone Scatterbrain Blitzberg Stab them in the ears.

darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1966	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Oct 2012 at 10:02pm
	RTF for me.
	My Last.fm

bytor2112 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Groupie Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Location: BC, Canada Status: Offline Points: 57	Post Options Post Reply Quote bytor2112 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Dec 2012 at 6:59pm
	I'm going with the Softs.