ABSTRACT
Formed in 1966 and taking its name from the title of a William S. Burroughs novel, Soft Machine, in ever-changing incarnations, was a true pioneer of progressive rock and jazz. Evolving out of a group of Canterbury musicians who had played together intermittently since at least 1963, the free-spirited original lineup of Mike Ratledge, Australian Daevid Allen and ex-Wilde Flowers Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers are at their melodic best on Jet-Propelled Photographs (Charly), a compilation of demos recorded in April 1967; this collection of edgy pop love songs has also been released as At the Beginning (Dressed to Kill #380).
