SOFT MACHINE — Land of Cockayne (review)

SOFT MACHINE — Land of Cockayne album cover Album · 1981 · Post-Fusion Contemporary Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
snobb
Last studio album,still having the right be named Soft Machine's work,was released five years ago, and Land Of Cockayne obviously attracted many old band's fans at the time of release. But main reaction on its music was deep disappointment.

Looking from now, this album isn't so tragic,the main problem is it's not Soft Machine's album at all. No original band's members participated on this album, Karl Jenkins and John Marshall were both members of Soft Machine for some years,Allan Holdsworth collaborated on Bundles,but no one of them was artist,saving and developing original band's sound and artistic ideas.Even more,in fact the musicians collective,participated on recording,are Karl Jenkins (as Soft Machine trade mark owner) and session musicians ( besides of Allan Holdsworth there are Jack Bruce and known jazz keyboardist John Taylor between others).

Music on this album has nothing in common with any Soft Machine previous releases, so only way to listen this without prediction is just to forget about Soft Machine's name,placed on album's cover. It's business,baby... let's speak about music now.

Karl Jenkins,who came to Soft Machine one day as sax player and replacement for Elton Dean,but switched to keyboards later,continue with playing keyboards on this release as well. There are two guesting sax players,collaborating on recording,additional keyboardist,two guitarists, bassist, drummer and back-vocals section.Musically album is influenced by early 80-s fashion and contains melodic fusion,often simplified,sometimes with dance-able rhythms,in moments close to disco and new age,sometimes - openly jazzy or in pop-jazz radio friendly songs tradition. Sax player sound similar to Candy Dulfer with long catchy lyrical soloing over simplified straight forward songs structure. At the same time there are quite complex and interesting compositions,with jazzy keyboards and heavy fusion guitar soloing.In moments all music sounds as small orchestra's work,with neo-classical arrangements over openly pop-oriented songs.

All in all, the album is very eclectic, possibly one of the targets was to fulfill expectation of possibly wider circle of listeners.Musicians are really professional,musical material isn't so good, but not too bad remembering of the time's musical fashion.

Not an album for Soft Machine's real fans, but kind of average fusion recording from early 80-s.
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