Soft Machine Thirteen

[GA Russell]

BANDCAMP DOWNLOAD PRE-ORDER WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM MARCH 13, 2026. 'Soft Machine is not just a band, it's an ever evolving concept.'   Notes by Sid Smith   'Thirteen’ is the thirteenth studio album by classic British band Soft Machine. Comprising thirteen brand new tracks, the album marks a new chapter in the group’s 60 year history.   Soft Machine is one of the greatest UK avant/jazz-rock bands of all time. Originally one of the Canterbury Scene bands, their work, from their earliest performances as a psychedelic band who were contemporaries of, and shared stages with Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, all the way to being one of Europe’s best known ‘fusion’ bands has influenced several generations of bands, and continues to be name-checked by today’s hip experimentalists.   Whilst the line-up of Soft Machine may have changed many times since the heady days of the late 1960's, 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 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, including the longest most progressive track of the set ‘The Longest Night’ (clocking in at just over 13 minutes). The newest member of the group is drummer and composer Asaf Sirkis. Former Soft Machine drummer and songwriter Robert Wyatt said of Asaf  – “I’ve known Asaf’s gifts for years, certainly enough to say that as far as I can see there’s nothing he can’t do when he puts his mind to it.....his kit skills just keep expanding but what really gets to me are his ethereal, haunting compositions....”   The album is incredibly broad in its breadth and scope. Tracks include ‘Pens to the Foal Mode’ which is a completely free group improvisation; ‘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 and ‘Turmoil’ penned by bassist Fred Baker which brims with deranged fuzz bass, manic solos and an almost unhinged clamor. ‘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) in a psychedelic tribal set piece with soprano sax, guitar and duduk (a haunting Armenian traditional wooden flute like instrument) floating over hypnotic rhythms.   Produced by Theo Travis. Recorded by Ru Lemer at Temple Music Studio, Surrey April 2025. Mixed by Andrew Tulloch at the Blue Studio, London August/September 2025 Mastered by Andrew Tulloch at the Blue Studio, London November 2025 Cover artwork is by Turkish artist Esra Kisir Gokcen. SOFT MACHINE confirmed and announced dates:   John Etheridge – electric guitar Theo Travis - tenor & soprano saxes, flute, Fender Rhodes piano, electronics Fred Thelonious Baker – bass guitar Asaf Sirkis - drums & percussion   Mar 19 - London, UK (Ronnie Scott’s) Mar 20 - Chelmsford, UK (Hotbox) Mar 28 - Halesworth, UK (The Cut) April 07 - Manchester, UK (Band on Wall) Apr 08 - Ambleside, UK (Zeferrelis) Apr 09 - Kinross, UK (Green Hotel) Apr 11 - Birmingham, UK (Conservatoire, Bradshaw Hall) Apr 16 - Bellinzona, Switzerland (Teatro Sociale) Apr 18 - Breno, Italy (Teatro delle Ali) May 03 - Gouveia, Portugal (Gouveia Art Rock Festival) May 14 - Deal, UK (The Lighthouse) Jun 12 - Paris, France (Le Triton) Jun 20 - Yealmpton, UK (Community Centre) Jun 21 - Exeter, UK (Phoenix Arts Centre) Jul 03 - London, UK (New Cross Inn) Jul 24 - Teramo, Italy (Piazza Sant’Anna, MoonJune Festival)    with special guest Gary Husband (keyboards) Aug 15 - Cropredy, UK (Cropredy Festival) Oct 16 - Tilburg, Netherlands (Paradox) Oct 17 - Aachen, Germany (Musikbunker) Oct 18 - Hamburg, Germany (Nica Jazz Club) Oct 20 - Vienna, Austria (Porgy & Bess) Oct 22 - Budapest, Hungary (Off Kultur) Oct 24 - Munich, Germany (tbc) Oct 25 - Furth, Germany (Kofferfabrik) Oct 27 - Passau, Germany (Café Museum) Oct 30 - Chur, Switzerland (Streaminghall) Oct 31 - Wintertur, Switzeralnd (Gaswerk) Nov 01 - Russelheim, Germany (Das Rind) Nov 28 - Sutton, UK (Sound Lounge) Dec 03 - London, UK (Cadogan Hall, with Colosseum) Dec 05 - Southampton, UK (1865, with Colosseum)   Many more shows to be announced soon. Sorry, no USA dates this year. SOFT MACHINE, The MoonJune Years   SOFT WORKS (2002-2004) SOFT MACHINE LEGACY (2004-2014) SOFT MACHINE (2015-2026 and onwards) https://softmachine-moonjune.bandcamp.com   ELTON DEAN  HUGH HOPPER ALLAN HOLDSWORTH JOHN MARSHALL JOHN ETHERIDGE THEO TRAVIS RIY BABBINGTON FRED BAKER ASAF SIRKIS