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Thirteen on CD

'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 it's 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