Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Hidden Details
View on Wikipedia
| Hidden Details | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 7 September 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 20–22 December 2017[1] | |||
| Studio | Temple Music Studio, Surrey, South East England | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion | |||
| Length | 60:25 | |||
| Label | MoonJune Records MJR093 | |||
| Producer | Theo Travis, John Etheridge | |||
| Soft Machine chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Soft Machine Legacy chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz | |
Hidden Details is the eleventh studio album by the jazz rock band Soft Machine, released in September 2018.
Overview
[edit]Hidden Details is the first album released under the Soft Machine moniker since Land of Cockayne in 1981, with a six-night residency at Ronnie Scott's club in 1984 being the last time Soft Machine were active until 2015. Several members from Soft Machine's history operated under the name "Soft Machine Legacy" from 2004 until dropping the "Legacy" from their name in 2015, thus re-activating Soft Machine after 31 years. This album was recorded by the same line-up that released the Soft Machine Legacy album Burden of Proof in 2013. From the 1984 line-up were drummer John Marshall, who joined Soft Machine in 1972, and guitarist John Etheridge, who joined in 1975 and left in 1978 before re-joining for the 1984 shows. Bassist Roy Babbington, who was with Soft Machine during 1973 to 1976, was also included, while Theo Travis completed the line-up on keyboards and saxophone. "The Man Who Waved at Trains" is a rerecording of a track written by original member Ratledge from their 8th album Bundles. "Out Bloody Rageous" is a rerecording of a track from their album Third.[citation needed]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hidden Details" | Theo Travis | 7:36 |
| 2. | "The Man Who Waved at Trains" | Mike Ratledge | 5:00 |
| 3. | "Ground Lift" | Travis, Roy Babbington | 5:21 |
| 4. | "Heart Off Guard" | John Etheridge | 2:29 |
| 5. | "Broken Hill" | Etheridge | 3:49 |
| 6. | "Flight of the Jett" | Etheridge, Travis, John Marshall, Babbington | 2:12 |
| 7. | "One Glove" | Etheridge | 4:30 |
| 8. | "Out Bloody Intro" | Travis, Ratledge | 2:41 |
| 9. | "Out Bloody Rageous (Part 1)" | Ratledge | 4:56 |
| 10. | "Drifting White" | Etheridge | 1:47 |
| 11. | "Life on Bridges" | Travis | 8:05 |
| 12. | "Fourteen Hour Dream" | Travis | 6:24 |
| 13. | "Breathe" | Travis, Marshall | 5:12 |
| Total length: | 60:25 | ||
2018 Vinyl version (Tonefloat TF185)
[edit]Side A
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hidden Details" | Theo Travis | 7:36 |
| 2. | "The Man Who Waved at Trains" | Mike Ratledge | 5:00 |
| 3. | "Ground Lift" | Travis, Roy Babbington | 5:21 |
| 4. | "Night Sky" | John Etheridge, Travis, Babbington | 3:19 |
Side B
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Heart Off Guard" | Etheridge | 2:29 |
| 6. | "Broken Hill" | Etheridge | 3:49 |
| 7. | "Flight of the Jett" | Etheridge, Travis, John Marshall, Babbington | 2:12 |
| 8. | "One Glove" | Etheridge | 4:30 |
| 9. | "Out Bloody Intro" | Travis, Ratledge | 2:41 |
| 10. | "Out Bloody Rageous (Part 1)" | Ratledge | 4:56 |
Side C
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Drifting White" | Etheridge | 1:47 |
| 12. | "Life on Bridges" | Travis | 8:05 |
| 13. | "Fourteen Hour Dream" | Travis | 6:24 |
| 14. | "Breathe" | Travis, Marshall | 5:12 |
Side D (Bonus Tracks)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Only When" | Etheridge, Travis, Babbington | 2:37 |
| 16. | "Green Collared Man" | Etheridge | 3:14 |
| 17. | "Ground Lift (Alternative Take)" | Travis, Babbington | 4:45 |
| 18. | "Just Add Hock" | Etheridge, Travis, Marshall, Babbington | 3:35 |
| 19. | "SDS" | Marshall | 2:20 |
| 20. | "Round the Corner" | Etheridge, Travis | 3:06 |
| Total length: | 80:02 | ||
Personnel
[edit]- Soft Machine
- Theo Travis (joined ‘Soft Machine Legacy’ in 2006) – tenor and soprano saxophones, flutes, Fender Rhodes piano
- John Etheridge (joined in 1975) – electric and acoustic guitars
- Roy Babbington (joined in 1973) – bass
- John Marshall (joined in 1972) – drums, percussion
- Guest musicians
- Nick Utteridge – chimes on "Breathe"
References
[edit]- ^ "Soft Machine - Hidden Details (2018) user reviews, credits & releases | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Kellman, John (9 September 2018). "Soft Machine: Hidden Details; All About Jazz". allaboutjazz.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
External links
[edit]- Soft Machine - Hidden Details (2018) user reviews, credits & releases at AllMusic
- Soft Machine - Hidden Details (2018) album releases & credits at Discogs
- Soft Machine - Hidden Details (2018) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com
- Soft Machine - Hidden Details (2018) album to be listened on Spotify
- Soft Machine - Hidden Details (2018) album to be listened on YouTube
Hidden Details
View on GrokipediaBackground
Historical Context
Soft Machine emerged in mid-1966 as a pioneering force in the Canterbury scene, blending psychedelic rock with improvisational elements that would evolve into jazz-rock fusion.[6] Founded by drummer and vocalist Robert Wyatt, bassist and vocalist Kevin Ayers, guitarist Daevid Allen, and keyboardist Mike Ratledge, the band quickly gained prominence in the UK underground during its psychedelic origins from 1967 to 1969, touring Europe and releasing their debut album in 1968.[7] The Robert Wyatt era, extending up to 1971, marked a transitional phase toward more structured compositions, highlighted by the commercial peak of their 1970 double album Third, which featured extended suites and showcased the band's shift toward jazz influences.[6] Under Mike Ratledge's leadership in the 1970s, Soft Machine further embraced fusion, achieving another milestone with the 1975 album Bundles, which introduced guitarist Allan Holdsworth and emphasized virtuosic instrumentation.[7] By the late 1970s, the band experienced a decline amid frequent lineup changes and the shifting tides of music trends away from progressive fusion toward punk and new wave.[7] This instability culminated in their breakup in 1981 following the release of Land of Cockayne, their tenth studio album, which represented a final, subdued effort under the original name.[6] Sporadic reformations occurred in the 1990s and 2000s under variant names to evade legal issues with the trademark; notably, Soft Machine Legacy formed in 2004 with Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper, John Etheridge, and John Marshall. After Dean's death in 2006, Theo Travis joined on saxophone and keyboards; following Hopper's death in 2009, Roy Babbington joined on bass, continuing the jazz-rock legacy through several albums and tours.[8][6] In 2015, driven by enduring fan demand for a classic lineup reunion, the group revived the Soft Machine name for the first time since 1981, with Etheridge, Babbington, Marshall, and Travis performing live.[6] This marked an official resurgence, building on Legacy's momentum, as the quartet embarked on tours from 2015 to 2017 across Europe and North America, honing material that would culminate in new studio recordings.[5] These performances revitalized the band's profile, paving the way for Hidden Details as their first original album under the Soft Machine banner in over three decades.[7]Lineup Formation
The formation of the lineup for Soft Machine's 2018 album Hidden Details stemmed from the 2015 rebranding of Soft Machine Legacy into the original band name, initiated by drummer John Marshall (1941–2023) and guitarist John Etheridge to revive touring activities.[9][10] This reunion effort recruited bassist Roy Babbington for continuity with the band's 1970s sound, while saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Theo Travis provided woodwinds and compositional contributions, creating the closest configuration to the classic 1970s fusion era since the Third album period.[11] The group, comprising three veterans from Soft Machine's 1970s incarnations, emphasized a blend of legacy and evolution through global performances starting in December 2015.[12] John Marshall, on drums, had joined Soft Machine in 1972, becoming a cornerstone of its fusion phase after replacing Phil Howard during sessions for Six. He died on September 16, 2023.[13] Prior to this, he co-founded the jazz-rock ensemble Nucleus in 1969 and briefly toured with Jack Bruce's band in 1971, honing his versatile style across progressive and jazz contexts.[14] Guitarist John Etheridge entered Soft Machine in 1975, debuting on the album Softs (1976) and serving as the primary soloist through subsequent releases like Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris.[12][6] His tenure highlighted intricate jazz improvisation, complemented by solo projects that explored acoustic and electric fusion.[15] Bassist Roy Babbington, who first contributed double bass to Soft Machine's Third in 1970 and transitioned to electric bass in 1973 after Six, debuting as full member on Seven, returned in 2015 to anchor the rhythm section with his Nucleus session experience from the early 1970s.[6] Theo Travis, handling saxophone, flute, and keyboards, integrated in 2006 with Soft Machine Legacy—replacing Elton Dean—and carried over into the 2015 lineup, infusing modern jazz elements drawn from collaborations with Gong since 2000 and Robert Fripp in the duo Travis & Fripp.[12] His involvement in Soft Machine Legacy during the 2000s, including albums like Steam, bridged archival material with contemporary arrangements.[16] To connect the album's new compositions with Soft Machine's history, the lineup rerecorded "The Man Who Waved at Trains," originally from the 1975 Bundles era featuring Etheridge, and "Out-Bloody-Rageous," a 1970 Mike Ratledge piece from Third.[2] These reinterpretations underscored the musicians' shared legacy, adapting the tracks to the current ensemble's dynamics.[17]Recording and Production
Studio Sessions
The recording of Hidden Details occurred during a focused three-day session from 20 to 22 December 2017 at The Temple Music Studio in Surrey, England, a facility owned by the late drummer Jon Hiseman. This compact timeline prioritized capturing the band's live interplay, with the group performing primarily as a unit to preserve the spontaneous energy of their jazz fusion sound.[18][19][20] Session dynamics centered on improvisation and minimal overdubs, allowing the music to retain its raw vitality. The band arrived with basic compositional sketches primarily from saxophonist Theo Travis and guitarist John Etheridge, such as the title track "Hidden Details" and "One Glove," which served as starting points for spontaneous arrangements developed on the spot. Free improvisations were decided in-studio, contributing to the album's organic flow, while only a few minor fixes were added afterward to maintain the live feel. Drummer John Marshall noted, "We rehearsed the written compositions beforehand but decisions about the improvised pieces were made in the studio." Travis described the process as efficient, stating, "We recorded it live in the studio… We actually only spent 3 days in the studio which is fast for these days!"[20][21] Key creative decisions included rerecording "The Man Who Waved at Trains" from the band's 1975 album Bundles and a reimagined medley of "Out-Bloody-Rageous" from their 1970 album Third, both by Mike Ratledge—as tributes to their legacy, infused with modern twists like Travis's keyboard intro on the latter echoing Ratledge's style and Etheridge's use of new pedals and effects. These selections, alongside original material, were curated to fit a total runtime of approximately 60 minutes, optimized for CD format.[20][11][22] The tight schedule stemmed from the members' extensive touring commitments, which limited preparation time and fostered a raw, energetic atmosphere reflective of their live performances since reforming as Soft Machine in 2015. This urgency, while challenging, enhanced the album's immediacy, as the group captured performances in a relaxed yet intense environment under Hiseman's guidance. Travis recalled the sessions as "an incredibly relaxed affair," with minimal post-tracking adjustments to honor the in-the-moment execution.[20][21]Engineering and Post-Production
The album Hidden Details was produced by band members Theo Travis and John Etheridge, with executive production handled by Leonardo Pavkovic for MoonJune Music.[11] Recording occurred over three days from December 20 to 22, 2017, at Jon Hiseman's Temple Music Studio in Surrey, England, where Hiseman served as the recording engineer.[23] Mixing took place on February 1, 2, and 6, 2018, followed by mastering on May 10, 2018, both conducted by Andrew Tulloch at The Blue Studio in London.[24][11] The engineering process focused on delivering exceptional clarity to showcase the nuances in the band's interplay, particularly Etheridge's intricate guitar lines and Travis's expressive saxophone and flute work.[5] This top-notch production standard utilized The Blue Studio's hybrid analog-digital setup, including Neve preamps and SSL compressors, to blend warmth with precision during mixing and mastering.[24] Subtle spatial effects were applied to maintain an atmospheric depth, enhancing the overall sonic balance without overpowering the acoustic elements.[5] Post-production featured the addition of wind chimes by guest musician Nick Utteridge on the ambient closing track "Breathe," contributing delicate, cyclical textures to Travis's looped flute and Marshall's percussion.[11] Tulloch's mastering balanced dynamics across the 13 tracks, optimizing for both digital playback and the limited-edition 180-gram vinyl pressing (200 copies) released by Tonefloat, ensuring fidelity in analog reproduction.[25][11] This approach preserved the album's complex jazz-rock structures while accommodating vinyl's technical constraints.[24]Composition and Style
Musical Approach and Influences
Hidden Details exemplifies jazz fusion intertwined with progressive rock elements, embodying the Canterbury scene's hallmark improvisation and sophisticated rhythmic complexity. The album's soundscape merges fluid jazz harmonies with rock-driven energy, featuring intricate ensemble interactions and shifting time signatures that evoke the genre's exploratory ethos. This approach maintains Soft Machine's legacy as pioneers of the Canterbury sound while adapting it to contemporary sensibilities.[26][11][17] Influences from the band's 1970s era are prominent, with nods to the avant-garde structures of Third and the electric fusion intensity of Bundles, evident in reimagined tracks like "The Man Who Waved at Trains" and "Out-Bloody-Rageous, Part 1." External inspirations draw from Miles Davis's electric period and the high-velocity precision of Mahavishnu Orchestra, infusing the music with modal explorations and virtuosic interplay. These elements are layered with Canterbury improvisation traditions, creating a bridge between historical jazz-rock innovations and the current quartet's interpretive depth.[27][26][17] Thematically, the album's instrumental tracks delve into concealed nuances through dynamic builds and releases, fostering a sense of revelation without vocals. Titles such as "Heart Off Guard" and "Broken Hill" imply emotional undercurrents, enhancing the music's introspective quality within its fusion framework. This coherence underscores Soft Machine's enduring focus on abstract expression through sound.[26][11] Innovations in Hidden Details include more concise compositions, typically lasting 4 to 5 minutes, which contrast with the expansive suites of the 1970s and emphasize punchy, focused energy. Rerecordings of earlier material are refreshed to highlight the lineup's seasoned maturity, incorporating modern techniques like looping while preserving core improvisational spirit. These updates ensure the album resonates as a vital evolution in the band's discography.[27][17][11]Instrumentation and Arrangements
The core instrumentation of Hidden Details features John Etheridge on electric and acoustic guitars, delivering distorted leads and chordal comping that drive the harmonic foundation and improvisational energy.[2] Roy Babbington provides electric bass lines, incorporating walking patterns and fusion-oriented grooves that anchor the rhythmic complexity.[17] John Marshall handles drums and percussion, employing odd meters and polyrhythms to propel tracks with intricate fills and dynamic propulsion.[28] Theo Travis contributes soprano and tenor saxophones, flutes, and Fender Rhodes piano, weaving melodic themes and atmospheric fills that blend reed improvisation with keyboard textures.[29] Arrangement techniques on the album follow a layered heads-solos-heads format characteristic of jazz ensemble playing, allowing for structured themes to frame extended improvisations.[2] Dynamic shifts create contrast, moving from quiet introspection—such as the flute lines in "Spiral Globes"—to high-energy climaxes in pieces like the title track, where guitar riffs and sax melodies build intensity over undulating rhythms.[17] The overall sound maintains an organic 1970s vibe through minimal electronics, with subtle effects enhancing flute and keyboard layers without overpowering the acoustic interplay.[2] Guest percussionist Nick Utteridge adds ethereal texture via wind chimes on the track "Breathe," contributing delicate, improvisational accents to its atmospheric soundscape.[29] The album's re-recordings of legacy Soft Machine material, such as Mike Ratledge's "The Man Who Waved at Trains" and "Out-Bloody-Rageous," feature extended solos that highlight the current quartet's interplay, shifting emphasis from the originals' keyboard-centric arrangements to prominent guitar-reed dialogues.[28]Track Listing
Standard CD Edition
The Standard CD edition of Hidden Details, released by MoonJune Records under catalog number MJR093, comprises the album's core 13 tracks and serves as the primary format for both physical CD distribution and digital streaming services, with a total runtime of 60:02.[3] This edition contains no bonus material, focusing exclusively on original compositions and select rerecordings that highlight the collaborative spirit of the lineup.[18] Compositions are primarily by Theo Travis and John Etheridge, with rerecordings of works by Mike Ratledge.[11] The track listing is as follows:| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hidden Details" | Travis | 7:36 |
| 2. | "The Man Who Waved at Trains" | Ratledge | 5:00 |
| 3. | "Ground Lift" | Travis/Babbington | 5:21 |
| 4. | "Heart Off Guard" | Etheridge | 2:29 |
| 5. | "Broken Hill" | Etheridge | 3:49 |
| 6. | "Flight of the Jett" | Etheridge/Travis/Babbington/Marshall | 2:12 |
| 7. | "One Glove" | Etheridge | 4:30 |
| 8. | "Out Bloody Intro" | Ratledge/Travis | 2:41 |
| 9. | "Out Bloody Rageous, Part 1" | Ratledge | 4:56 |
| 10. | "Drifting White" | Etheridge | 1:47 |
| 11. | "Life on Bridges" | Travis | 8:05 |
| 12. | "Fourteen Hour Dream" | Travis | 6:24 |
| 13. | "Breathe" | Travis/Marshall | 5:12 |
Vinyl Edition (Tonefloat TF185)
The vinyl edition of Hidden Details, released by Tonefloat Records in September 2018 under catalog number TF185, is a limited double LP pressed on 180-gram vinyl, with a total production run of 500 copies across three color variants: 150 on solid orange, 150 on solid blue, and 200 on orange-and-blue marbled (the latter exclusive to the band's 2018-2019 world tour).[30] This format extends the standard CD edition by including "Night Sky" and six exclusive bonus tracks on Side D, all previously unreleased studio outtakes from the December 2017 sessions at Temple Studios in Surrey, England, resulting in a total runtime of approximately 83 minutes.[30] The bonus tracks emphasize the album's ambient and improvisational jazz-rock elements, featuring more experimental textures and alternative interpretations that deepen the thematic exploration of introspection and sonic landscapes:- "Only When" (2:37)
- "Green Collared Man" (3:14)
- "Ground Lift (Alternative Take)" (4:45)
- "Just Add Hock" (3:35)
- "SDS" (2:20)
- "Round The Corner" (3:06) [30]
