Soft Machine
- Type: Band/Group
- Country: United Kingdom
- Born: 1966 in Canterbury, England, United Kingdom
- Active: 1966 - present
Biography
Pioneers of the Canterbury scene, Soft Machine formed in 1966 and became a primary architect of both British psychedelic rock and jazz-rock fusion. The band's trajectory was one of constant evolution, marked by frequent personnel shifts that guided a transition away from the whimsical pop of their debut 'The Soft Machine' toward complex, instrumental improvisation. Core lineups featuring musicians like *Robert Wyatt*, *Mike Ratledge*, and *Hugh Hopper* explored long-form compositions on landmark albums such as 'Third', released on #Columbia Records#. Abandoning conventional songcraft for ambitious sonic textures, Soft Machine created a lasting blueprint for experimental rock that influenced countless progressive and jazz-fusion acts.
Genres
Soft Machine Discography
- The Soft Machine (1968) - Album - rated 4.41/5
- Third (1970) - Album - rated 4.56/5
- Fourth (1971) - Album - rated 4.16/5
- Fifth (1972) - Album - rated 3.82/5
- Seven (1973) - Album - rated 3.8/5
- Six (1973) - Album - rated 4.1/5
- Bundles (1975) - Album - rated 3.88/5
- Soft Machine 1&2 (Architects of Space Time) (1975) - Compilation - rated 4.18/5
- Softs (1976) - Album - rated 3.44/5
- Land of Cockayne (1981) - Album - rated 2.7/5
- Fourth/Fifth (1999) - Compilation - rated 3.63/5
- Man in a Deaf Corner (2001) - Album - rated 3.35/5
- Hidden Details (2018) - Album - rated 3.42/5
- Thirteen (2026) - Album - rated 3.79/5
Members
- John Etheridge - guitar (1975–1978; 1984; 2015–Present)
- Theo Travis - saxophone, flute, keyboards (2015–Present)
- Fred Thelonious Baker - bass (2020–Present)
- Asaf Sirkis - drums (2022–Present)
- Mike Ratledge - keyboards, flute (1966–1976)
- Robert Wyatt - drums, vocals (1966–1971)
- Hugh Hopper - bass (1968–1973)
- Elton Dean - saxophone, keyboards (1969–1972)
- John Marshall - drums, percussion (1972–1978; 1980–1981; 1984; 2015–2022)
- Karl Jenkins - oboe, saxophone, keyboards, piano (1972–1978; 1980–1981; 1984)
- Roy Babbington - bass (1973–1976; 2015–2020)
- Allan Holdsworth - guitar (1973–1975; 1978; 1980–1981)