Soft Machine Thirteen

'Thirteen' is the thirteenth studio album by classic British prog band
Soft Machine. The album of superlative new material marks a fresh
chapter in the group's 60-year history. Whilst the line-up of Soft
Machine may have changed many times since the heady days of the
late 1960s, the band's spirit of musical adventure, and the ease with
which it freely avoids being pigeonholed has stayed a constant - as
it moves from powerful progressive jazz rock to atmospheric
psychedelia to free improvised jazz to ambient loop music.

'Thirteen' features legendary guitarist John Etheridge, who has been
with the band over 50 years and is once again in superb form. Whilst
all four members of the band contribute compositions, the album's
main composer is saxophonist, flautist and keyboard player Theo
Travis, who wrote six of the album's thirteen tracks. The newest
member of the group is drummer and composer Asaf Sirkis.

The album is incredibly broad in its breadth and scope. Tracks
include "Open Road" a rocky track which sees the band soaring on
all burners with fiery solos by both Etheridge and Travis; the ballad
"Disappear", which starts with ethereal looped flutes and develops
into a beautiful piano led and drum less miniature. "Turmoil", penned
by bassist Fred Thelonious Baker, brims with deranged fuzz bass,
manic solos and an almost unhinged clamour. "Daevid's Special
Cuppa" sees a cameo by founder member Daevid Allen (his guitar
part being recorded years earlier, and the track built around it).

On 'Thirteen' Soft Machine has never sounded more adventurous

A1. Lemon Poem Song
A2. Open Road
A3. Seven Hours
A4. Waltz For Robert
B1. The Longest Night
B2. Disappear
B3. Green Books
C1. Beledo Balado
C2. Pens To The Foal Mode
C3. Time Station
C4. Which Bridge Did You Cross
C5. Turmoil
C6. Daevid's Special Cuppa
D1. Carol Ann (Bonus Track)
D2. Curious Dust (Bonus Track)
D3. Tarn Hows (Bonus Track)
D4. Seven Hours (Alt take) (Bonus Track)
D5. We Thought It Was Tuesday (Bonus Track)