porcupinetheater
06.15.21 | Oop goin' up against a legend r.i.p. |
Divaman
06.15.21 | This looks like fun. |
Jethro42
06.15.21 | I listened to Solar once and I like very much what I've heard. |
MrSirLordGentleman
06.15.21 | 2 automatically wins this tournament because of that artwork |
Friday13th
06.15.21 | @Gentleman a worthy successor to Yonin Bayashi! |
porcupinetheater
06.15.21 | Bumpin’ Solar up to a 4.5, record’s a fucking freaked out good time |
Inoculaeted
06.15.21 | The Yolk album cover is tier S. Going to be hard to ignore that in my assessment. |
SharkTooth
06.15.21 | 1 is also available on bandcamp jsyk
https://softmachine-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/hidden-details-hd
For some reason it's not available on spotify which is a damn shame
Also don't be too certain of your loss porcupine,
Solar so far is delightfully eerie so far and I could see it going either way from what I've heard |
wham49
06.15.21 | Soft machine "LAtest" record, if it is withnt he last couple years, they are going on 60 plus years, their debut in 68 is awesome |
wham49
06.15.21 | this one should be fun, I love SOft MAchine, and the Yolk album seems like something I would like as well |
Mythodea
06.15.21 | another week, antoher duet, by amazing users! Woot woot |
e210013
06.15.21 | I'm very curious about this new one journey. I'm especially curious about Yolk. I never checked them. Let's se what we have here. Good week for all, guys |
Zig
06.15.21 | Soft Machine's Third is a masterpiece. This round should be interesting! |
TwigTW
06.15.21 | Albums 9&10 of 20, looks like we've made it to the halfway point. |
e210013
06.15.21 | After a first listen of "Solar", I confirm what I suspected. This is an album between the fringes of avant-rock, RIO and zeuhl. I must confess that after have listen to it I liked it very much. This is another great surprise of this tournament. |
bgillesp
06.15.21 | Oof, two not on Spotify. They look interesting though |
e210013
06.15.21 | In my country, Hidden Details is on Spotify. I don't know if it's a general thing, but here it's the link I know, if it can serves for any of you:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5ijfqLdImnssCRX5Gah0xW?autoplay=true |
e210013
06.15.21 | After a first listen of "Hidden Details", I confirm what I suspected. This is an album in the same vein of the good old albums of The Soft Machine. We can say that it's positioned between the fringes of the Canterbury Scene and the Jazz/Fusion. I also liked it very much after that debut listening. This is a confirmation of the great quality of the band.
So, it seems that we are going to have another very tought prog journey. At least for me. |
Mythodea
06.15.21 | I didn't know that Theo Travis plays with Soft Machine, but his style is so easily recognisable |
e210013
06.15.21 | Yeah, you're right. I didn't know either. |
Jethro42
06.15.21 | Jazz usually makes me feel good, and it's the case for Hidden Details. It brings to me nostalgia. it's music I've listened to the most in the 80's, to compensate the lack of good prog releases during that decade. It's particularly good road music. It's warm, energetic and it's moving a lot, impregnated of stable atmosphere.
Solar is hard guitar driven, is more accessible, and easier to tame. It is disciplined in structure, and has Zeuhl vibes. It can be repetitive, but when it's good, why not. I think with another listen to Solar, I'll be ready to vote. |
Divaman
06.16.21 | Hmm. |
TwigTW
06.16.21 | Before I even listened to Yolk, I thought Soft Machine would get my vote. It's so good. Then I listened to Yolk. Now I want to vote for it too! This is my favorite week so far. I love both of these albums. I'm really going to have to think about this. |
Zig
06.16.21 | Hidden Details: Surely not as good as their 70's stuff. Although the performances are quite competent, most tracks are bland. Out Bloody Rageous is the highlight from this, an interesting take on the Third's original track. Soft Machine of one of my favorite bands, but this record shows the band's old age. (3.0)
Solar: Really enjoyed this album. Complex, yet melodic. There's a few experiments that keep things going. Production-wise: is a mess sometimes. Still a good listen. On Sepulchre track, there's a moment that their singer goes Yoko Ono! Loved that. (3.5)
My vote goes to Yolk - Solar. |
e210013
06.16.21 | After two listings of both albums I confirm my initial opinion, which is, we are with great stuff here. I agree with both previous comments. Hidden Details is an excellent album, probably not good as their classic 70's albums, but still is a remarkable album. Solar is an amazing discover, a true amazing album in its own way.
I'm in the same mood like Twig. This is also my favourite week so far too. In the other weeks I always had a favourite, despite the high quality af all the candidates. But, in this case, I'm absolutelly divided. I also love both albums.
So, I also need much more time to perfectly diggest both. I'm really going to have to think about this too. But, I'm afraid that in the end I also want to vote on both. |
TheIntruder
06.16.21 | I also agree with the previous comments. After check both I do not have anything negative to point to them. Both are 2 amazing albums in spite I am not very familiar with this kind of music. It seems to me that I am going to have a very busy week. |
Divaman
06.16.21 | No one will shocked to hear that both of these albums are outside of my own personal prog zone, although one seemingly more so than the other. My wife wandered into the room last night during one of the weirder parts of Solar, and you should have seen the withering look she gave me. :) |
porcupinetheater
06.16.21 | Hey Diva! You're welcome for the romance 😉
A night of wild love brought to you by Yolk, like those churches where they convulse on the floor and get themselves snakebit |
TwigTW
06.16.21 | If you are like me, and Bandcamp shut you down, Yolk is also on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9px6e98ZHvE&ab_channel=Cheese%26HerbsPsychedelicStonerMusic |
Divaman
06.16.21 | Hmm. I'm not sure you've completely grasped the definition of "withering", there, porc. |
porcupinetheater
06.16.21 | That’s a thing you do when you have a really sound safe word, right? |
Divaman
06.16.21 | Uh, yeah, sure. |
Pangea
06.17.21 | i really love both albums this time around. will be a tough one this week |
bgillesp
06.17.21 | Really like Yolk despite the start not being the best. It does get a little repetitive as was said earlier, but I agree that’s mostly okay since the repetition is of parts that sound good. Will get to soft machine when I can be bothered to use YT |
zakalwe
06.18.21 | I’m going for Soft Machines Hidden Details. There were less ‘lol, pack it in while a quizzical eyebrow was raised’ moments.
Also Hidden Details has a very pleasant groove that draws you in. |
e210013
06.18.21 | After 4 auditions of both albums:
The Soft Machine - Hidden Details:
As we all know, The Soft Machine is a classic prog band of the 70's that has never been the most commercially successful. But, their musical maturity has earned them a high place in the greater prog rock universe in terms of respect and durability. Their sound was always a cross between the Canterbury sound and jazz/fusion. "Hidden Details" is in the same line. It's an album with many complex atmospheric pieces and many avant-garde motifs. All of that takes us into a great journey. It never sounds like lukewarm or uninspired rehashes of their past moments. It represents a great return of a legendary prog band.
Yolk - Solar:
Yolk is almost a true unknown prog act. Their music is something that can be put between the fringes of the avant-guard rock and zeuhl. It lurks Yolk with their intense and dynamic rhythms that propel back and forth, repetitive but not exhausting. It's an aIbum with a really impressive rhytm, almost a very frantic album, despite it has also some calm and very beautiful passages. I like particularly of the vocal work on it with clearly influences of the zeuhl bands. We can also say that all musicians are very good. Their performance is an amazing thing. The last track "Sepulchre" reminds me Opeth at times, what is a great thing for me.
"Hidden Details" rated with 4.0.
"Solar" rated with 4.0.
Both albums are excellent. I must confess that my final decision only was made with the last fourth listening of both albums. In reality, I always was completely divided with my final decision. Sometimes it was one and in the others it was the other. So, this was a very tough decision. This was the most difficult journey for me. What was great, of course. So, thanks to both of you guys to bring to me two great works, one more classic and the other more irreverent. Oh boy, but since I need to take a definitive decision, my vote goes to "Solar". But, this is only by a very thin hair. I even changed my vote almost in the last minute, unbelievable. Both are really amazing works. |
Friday13th
06.18.21 | 1:2
Zakalwe
Zig
e21 |
Friday13th
06.18.21 | Been a busy week for me. The Soft Machine album is great. Can't wait to listen to Yolk! |
Jethro42
06.18.21 | ''Also, great narrative flow despite being instrumental!''
Funny that statement of yours, normaloctagon. I myself described Hidden Details as an expressive jazz album.
Hidden Details is sober, not pretentious, where each instrument has its room to express itself. None instrument tends to try usurping another. It's well done jazz, even if we cannot compare with Third which is really expressive and suite-like organ jams or generous sax based pieces. Both Soft Machine albums are warm and enticing though.
Solar is a furious train that tear off the rails on its way. It goes from melodic acrobatics to schizophrenic tensions. There is a lot going on in there. I prefer the immediate, the pressure found there, compared to the soft, inoffensive Hidden Details. Don't get me wrong, I nearly love everything from Hidden Details; The sexy sax a la Michael Brecker, the melodious, soft flute, guitars sometimes a la Holdsworth, the traditional jazz' rhythm section. Musicianship and compositions are really technical. Good jazz jam!
Solar is moving the most and it keeps my attention more easily. It can be repetitive, but it serves well the music. I like how in ''Vanitas'', vocals are similar to that on Siouxsie and the Banshees. And long live the Zeuhl!
|
Jethro42
06.18.21 | That flute solo at the 10th minute of Hidden Details.
That album got some good moments that dont last long enough. Others that are a bit too long. |
Jethro42
06.19.21 | K, finally, after couple more listens, I have more satisfaction to listen to Hidden Details as a whole. It's a well crafted summer jam. Solar is too weird and cold, and it drags a bit.
My vote goes to Hidden Details. Sorry porc. |
porcupinetheater
06.19.21 | NO TAKEBACKSIES
(Is ok ❤️ Jethro we all just proggin’ in the noggin’) |
Jethro42
06.19.21 | :)
Wish you plenty of good prog points along the way. |
e210013
06.19.21 | It seems that I was right I wasn't the only who had doubts and decided in the last minute. As I said this was a hard journey. Great journey. |
Jethro42
06.19.21 | My favorite parts are def into Solar (especially in the last two). But as a whole, I see me leaning more towards Hidden Details. Good music for cafés, or while riding your car. It's more tranquil for my old bones lol. |
Friday13th
06.19.21 | 3:2
Zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
Zig
e21 |
Divaman
06.19.21 | I'm going in one more time, God help me. |
Divaman
06.19.21 | OK, I'm ready to vote.
I've been under the weather most of the week, which hasn't helped. But this wasn't a good round for me.
I always wondered about Soft Machine, as they seemed to be considered the closest contemporaries of Pink Floyd back in the '60s British psychedelic era. I even picked up their Third album a while back. However, because I tend to prioritize keeping up with new music, it's still in my listening pile somewhere. So this is really my first exposure to this classic band (although I know their personnel is entirely different now).
Unfortunately, this was a disappointment to me. It's yet another album that I hear as well played but mostly uninteresting jazz, with no vocals. There were one or two moments that got through to me - there was a bit of Moonchild thing going on at the 30-minute mark or so that I was into briefly. But ultimately, I don't really take any pleasure in this kind of music, no matter how good the musicianship is. And the 59+ minute length didn't help it any.
The Yolk album is definitely a weird-ass LP. There were times where it was way too deep into the Outer Limits for me, but there were at least some other parts that I took some pleasure in. It mostly has vocalizations rather than vocals, but some (though not all) were enjoyable. And it didn't hurt that it clocked in a good twenty minutes lighter than the Soft Machine album.
So my voting preference never changed throughout the three listens. I vote for Yolk. |
wham49
06.20.21 | what can I say I love soft MAchine, have about every album, so not obscure to me,
but I still choose them |
Friday13th
06.20.21 | 4:3
Zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
wham
Zig
e21
Divaman |
MrSirLordGentleman
06.20.21 | I still don't know which one to pick. Soft Machine is more consistent, but the highs in Yolk are really good |
Mythodea
06.20.21 | ''Broken Hill'' on Hidden Details is the best Bohren und der Club of Gore track ever. |
zakalwe
06.20.21 | Yeah that Broken Hill number is great innit.
This album is my biggest surprise of the tourney so far, it just has something about it that sucks you in. |
Mythodea
06.20.21 | If only it didn't drag for so long! It's obviously more accessible, and varied. But those extra 20 minutes really lose it some points. |
zakalwe
06.20.21 | Seems like some of these tourney albums go on for decades don’t they.
Hidden Details has a consistent groove though. Jazzy. |
Mythodea
06.20.21 | I also like to think that Theo Travis put some classical references in while improvising. For instance, that small ''Barber of Seville'' on the 50:59 mark |
TwigTW
06.20.21 | It's still neck and neck for me. Hidden Details has a Beck, Blow By Blow vibe that I'm really enjoying. I'll listen to both again today and see what happens... |
Mythodea
06.20.21 | Okay, so I've been listening to these two again and again, and while Hidden Details (3.7) has some moments that make me go ''well, that's enjoyable, perhaps this one should get my vote'', Solar(4.2) brings the door down, grabs me by the feet, holds me over the balcony and shriekingly orders me to vote for it. Reality bends around me and the buildings become enourmous sequoias with little humanoids jumping and jolting.
Did I mention that now there's two moons in the sky? The one's constantly screaming with operatic attitude, the other just stands and stares like (0o0) |
Inoculaeted
06.20.21 | My vote is going to Yolk. This Soft Machine album is just not so much in my wheelhouse with the jazzy improv stuff. It's well performed and I love how they highlight different instruments on different tracks, but Solar is the more cohesive freak fest I'm looking for. |
bgillesp
06.20.21 | Gonna do my last listen tonight |
Inoculaeted
06.20.21 | Youtube algorithm threw me directly into the s/t Yolk album and I came back here to say it's pure fire and y'all should scope that out. |
Jethro42
06.21.21 | As I said earlier, the best moments belong to Solar, but recently, I got tired of their weird arrangements. They didn't invent anything either. Hidden Details could be better too. Not many hooks to be found there. They present good ideas, but they don't exploit it. |
Friday13th
06.21.21 | It’s a close call, but I am voting Yolk because it is a little more daring and still right up my alley. Parts sound like zeuhl, RIO, and even Tool on the last track.
4:6
Zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
wham
Zig
e21
Divaman
Mythodea
Inoculaeted
Friday
|
bgillesp
06.21.21 | Sorry I was late on this one. Gotta go with Yolk this week, but not by a whole lot. Just a lot more interesting things going on with it, but the deep smoothness of soft machine was captivating |
Friday13th
06.21.21 | 4:7
Zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
wham
Zig
e21
Divaman
Mythodea
Inoculaeted
Friday
bgillesp |
MrSirLordGentleman
06.21.21 | I'll go with Yolk but just by a tiny bit. Soft Machine is a ledendary band and the album certainly shows it, but there's nothing really new on it. Yolk isn't necessarily ground breaking, but at least it isn't a band playing it that safe on what made them famous in the first place. Also, Yolk has its artwork lol |
MiloRuggles
06.21.21 | Woah, both albums are great. Really loved the opener on the Soft Machine album, and it stayed good beyond that but probably would benefit from some trimming. What astonishing musicians though, the lead guitar gave me some serious dick envy
Yolk though! The ending of Solar is unbelievably cathartic. Those vocal harmonies are completely fucking deranged in the best kinda way. This album has some real personality.
Voting for Yolk, apologies to the prog Gods |
Friday13th
06.21.21 | 4:9
Zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
wham
Zig
e21
Divaman
Mythodea
Inoculaeted
Friday
bgillesp
Gentleman
MiloRuggles |
Pangea
06.21.21 | I meant to give both albums an additional listen before voting, but i just didn't have the time. Both are awesome. Soft machine is very soulful and tightly arranged while yolk is more wild and erratic. I think i prefer Soft machine by a hair and will vote for hidden details. loved this matchup though! this would have been a worthy final for me. |
TwigTW
06.21.21 | By the slimmest of margins, my vote goes to Soft Machine. |
porcupinetheater
06.21.21 | Reppin’ my set and voting Yolk, just can’t get enough of the playfully manic nutzoid shit it does
Hidden Details is one of the better discoveries of the tourney so far, though. Agreed with all comments about some trimming being in order, but the ever shifting atmosphere is damn compelling. |
TheIntruder
06.21.21 | So it is time for another vote. As I suspected, this week became very hard for me. Both albums are great and it is a pity that one of them go stay by the way. Solar is an original and irreverent album, but not for all prog fans. Hidden Details has a sound more in the vein of the classic prog stuf. I like of both, but since I need to chose one of them this time I will go with the classic stuf. So Hidden Details must be. |
SharkTooth
06.21.21 | upon multiple listens, I find that both records indeed slap cheeks
this is a hard vote |
bgillesp
06.21.21 | 7-10 right now? |
Divaman
06.21.21 | That looks about right. |
Jethro42
06.21.21 | We will get a tie, do we, do we? |
Divaman
06.21.21 | Nah. |
Friday13th
06.21.21 | 7:10
Zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
wham
Pangea
Twig
Intruder
Zig
e21
Divaman
Mythodea
Inoculaeted
Friday
bgillesp
Gentleman
MiloRuggles
porcupine |
SharkTooth
06.21.21 | I'm gonna vote my record, I get why people prefer 2, but 1's pieces feel feel much more immersive to me |
bgillesp
06.21.21 | Looking forward to the upcoming rounds. I just hope I don’t get matched with Ibio (even though I know I will) |
Jethro42
06.21.21 | Possibilities are wide open. |
Jethro42
06.21.21 | Double post |
Friday13th
06.22.21 | 8:10
zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
wham
Pangea
Twig
Intruder
Sharktooth
Zig
e21
Divaman
Mythodea
Inoculaeted
Friday
bgillesp
Gentleman
MiloRuggles
porcupine |
Inoculaeted
06.22.21 | I'm feasting on the shrapnel from this tournament. |
someone
06.22.21 | Can I submit my opinion in some 3 to 4 hours? |
Friday13th
06.22.21 | @someone yes, it's a close one so I wanted to give us more time. I am going to put up the new round, but let's say until the end of the day for this one. |
someone
06.22.21 | End of day in what time zone.
I'm a central European and it's currently 17:41 |
someone
06.22.21 | tight race, but i vote for Soft Machine |
Friday13th
06.22.21 | 9:10
zakalwe
normaloctagon
Jethro
wham
Pangea
Twig
Intruder
Sharktooth
someone
Zig
e21
Divaman
Mythodea
Inoculaeted
Friday
bgillesp
Gentleman
MiloRuggles
porcupine |
someone
06.22.21 | i didnt make the situation better, did i?
|
Friday13th
06.22.21 | not at all lol |
MrSirLordGentleman
06.22.21 | "i didnt make the situation better, did i?"
not better but certainly more interesting |
Divaman
06.23.21 | So did we call this one yet? |
porcupinetheater
06.23.21 | This round apparently has to be won by tennis rules |
Friday13th
06.24.21 | Well as much as it pains me it’s already Thursday so I’m going to call it for Yolk for the one point. |
Divaman
06.24.21 | Don't feel bad, Friday. People had more than enough time to get their votes in. |
