The Soft Machine-Bundles (1975)

After a two-year hiatus, Soft Machine returned to the scene in 1975 with their album "Bundles". By the time of its release, much had changed since their previous, somewhat uninspired album, "Seven". For starters, they had signed with a new record label, Harvest, a label specializing in progressive rock. Furthermore, the band was taking a new musical direction after the mediocre results of their previous album, which had led them to a dead end. This new album also featured a new member, guitarist Allan Holdsworth, and finally, the band's leadership was now centered on keyboardist Karl Jenkins, who had taken over from Mike Ratledge, who left the band after the release of "Seven". Despite its lack of innovative or experimental sound, "Bundles" sounds very different from all their previous releases, something that would disappoint many of their more orthodox fans. Nevertheless, it is a splendid work focused on jazz-rock and jazz fusion. The addition of Holdsworth also provides that rock edge the band had always lacked, generally dominated by keyboards and experimentation. The album opens with the five-part suite “Hazard Profile”, an excellent piece featuring incredible Holdsworth on the six-string and perfect interplay with the keyboards. The result is simply a great fusion of jazz and rock that remains vibrant thanks to John Marshall's powerful drumming. However, the suite's dynamics unfold with different variations, beginning with the more atmospheric second part, while the intros to parts three and four serve as a prelude to the final chapter, a frenetic track showcasing a great interplay of guitar, keyboards, and drums. At this point in the album, this new Soft Machine shows their rockier side, but at the same time exhibits their more introspective and delicate facet as demonstrated in the haunting and ambient “The Floating World” which together with the atmospheric jazz “Bundles”, the jazz rock “The Land Who Waved At Trains” and the free jazz “Peff”, make up a work that is considered an icon of jazz rock and a fundamental part of the progressive genre.