Land of Cockayne is the concluding album past times the band Soft Machine, released inwards 1981. By this point, the band contained none of its original members. The championship refers to the medieval nation of plenty.
The album came most as the effect of a projection inwards which Karl Jenkins in addition to John Marshall had been involved featuring transcend session musicians. The promotion hoc band, Rollercoaster, had latterly recorded the Stevie Wonder tribute album Wonderin' in addition to decided to tape closed to other album together. Many of the musicians included on the Cockayne album would brand upward Soft Machine's concluding alive line-up which played a six-night residency at Ronnie Scott's inwards 1984. This is the exclusively Soft Machine album to characteristic a string section.
Excellent chore remastering in addition to adding an informative booklet to this wonderful cd. the championship of this cd is based on a medieval vision, Land of Cockaigne, a miserable man's paradise of effortless abundance. i've been a soft machine fan for decades in addition to absolutely loved the progression inwards trend this band developed. to my constant surprise are those critics to dislike the changes this band had made. alter is the exclusively thing permanent inwards life people. this cd is rattling melodic, in addition to romantic, with added strings from the composition in addition to musical administration of karl jenkins. jack bruce on bass, toilet marshall drums, toilet taylor, allan holdsworth, alan parker, dick morrissey in addition to ray warleigh circular out the band. most of the music is rattling beautifully composed in addition to gentle. in that place are a couplet of pieces that "rock" to circular out the residual of trend on this cd. sadly this is the in conclusion of the modern describe of piece of employment upward of soft machine cds. in that place has been a lot of older textile beingness issued, which as good is wonderful. only if you're a fan of progressive jazz, this is a delightful cd to own.
This, the concluding album recorded nether the call Soft Machine, has been much maligned as beingness extraneous to the legacy of a band who forged a unique in addition to really progressive path through the belatedly sixties in addition to seventies. The truth of the thing is that it actually is a Karl Jenkins projection inwards all only name, only it should non locomote unfairly filed amongst the library music of the posthumously issued `Rubber Riff'.
One expect at the players listed hither should say anyone that this non a bland collection of half-baked instrumentals, only quite a feast of surprisingly potent musical sketches. Jenkins leads (as keyboardist in addition to conductor) such talents as the mighty Jack Bruce in addition to Allan Holdsworth in addition to twin sax maestros Ray Warleigh in addition to Dick Morrissey. John Taylor contributes closed to offset degree Fender Rhodes, spell Softs cohort John Marshall is as reliable in addition to vibrant as e'er on drums.
The album is a suite of varied instrumental pieces ranging from appealing, sunny pieces for sax in addition to wordless vocals, melodic ambient excursions, string sections, in addition to potent themes which allow ample fourth dimension for character soloing from the giants gathered here. Yes, it is slow on the ear, only it carries a gravitas which relates dorsum to Jenkins' compositions for before incarnations of Soft Machine. The extended `Panoramania' in addition to `Hot Biscuit Slim' both retrieve the joy of a beautifully scored caput subject ushering inwards a collection of solos past times musicians who past times virtue of their pedigree brand every greenback count. `Black Velvet Mountain' is a wonderful showcase for Allan Holdsworth's powerfulness to become within a melody, which similar his run with the Bruford band of this era, exude the potency of a seasoned player. `Sly Monkey' offers farther bear witness that an Allan Holdsworth solo is a thing of nifty joy, peculiarly when complemented past times the as regal saxophone of Ray Warleigh.
Tracks Listing
1. Over 'n' higher upward (7:24)
2. Lotus groves (4:57)
3. Isle of the blessed (1:56)
4. Panoramania (7:07)
5. Behind the crystal mantle (0:53)
6. Palace of drinking glass (3:22)
7. Hot-biscuit Slim (7:27)
8. (Black) velvet mount (5:10)
9. Sly monkey (5:00)
10. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of what you lot fancy... (0:35)
Total Time: 43:51
Personnel
Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synths, orchestration
John Marshall – drums, percussion
Jack Bruce – bass
Allan Holdsworth – Pb guitar
John Taylor – electrical piano
Ray Warleigh – alto saxophone, bass flute
Dick Morrissey – tenor saxophone
Alan Parker – beat guitar
Stu Calver – vocals, backing vocals
John G. Perry – vocals, backing vocals
Tony Rivers – vocals, backing vocals
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