The Soft Machine-Volumen Two (1969)

This is one of the quintessential Canterbury sound albums, slightly surpassing other masterpieces such as Caravan's "In the Land of Grey and Pink" or Hatfield and The North's "Rotter's Club", to name just two. Despite its short length (thirty-three minutes), this album had a huge impact at the time, with seventeen exhilarating tracks. Released in 1969, "Vol. II" is a bit less pop and more complex than its predecessor, the stunning debut "The Soft Machine" (1968), and although one of its leading figures, Kevin Ayers, doesn't appear on this new work, frankly, he isn't missed. The album shifts effortlessly (and quite rapidly) between playful pop tracks like "Hulloder", "As Long as He Lies Perfectly Still", and "Pig", and considerably more complex jazz-rock (though not fusion) pieces, such as "Hibou, Anemone and Bear" and the free jazz of "Out of Tunes". The album is divided into two distinct sides: Side A is primarily written by bassist Hugh Hopper and arranged by Robert Wyatt, while Side B is entirely written by keyboardist Mike Ratledge. Thus, Side B is much more jazz-oriented and abstract, which is surprising given Hopper's later work. Side A is more pop-oriented and, at the same time, much more accessible; however, both sides showcase incredible moments of exceptional quality. Wyatt, though occasionally grating, is impeccable here: his sloppy, choppy, and slightly high-pitched delivery perfectly complements the whimsical music. This album also marked the first time The Soft Machine used a horn section on one of their recordings, with brilliant results. Ultimately, "Vol. II" is the pinnacle of Soft Machine's varied and illustrious career, a perfect and smooth blend of jazz, psychedelia, pop, and rock.