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Fourth | 
| Artist: Soft Machine
Label: Sony Bmg Europe
Category: Music
Buy New: $15.99
Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 52556
Format: Import, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 828768729120
EAN: 0828768729120
ASIN: B000H8RWFG
Release Date: March 5, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Teeth | | • | Kings and Queens | | • | Fletcher's Blemish | | • | Virtually, Pt. 1 | | • | Virtually, Pt. 2 | | • | Virtually, Pt. 3 | | • | Virtually, Pt. 4 |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Japanese remastered reissue packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. CBS/Sony. 2004.
Album Details
Remastered from the Original Master Tapes and Sounding Better Than Ever.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Nice mix of jazz, free jazz and aspects of minimalism March 31, 2008
Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Released in 1971, this is an excellent album from the Canterbury scene that boasts a thrilling mix of jazz, free-jazz, the avant-garde and aspects of minimalism. Of the Canterbury groups, I think that Soft Machine may have been the jazziest and this album certainly illustrates this.
The musicians are fantastic and comprise the classic lineup of Hugh Hopper (electric bass), Mike Ratledge (electric piano and (typically heavily distorted) organ), Robert Wyatt (drums) and Elton Dean (alto saxophone and saxello). The core group is augmented by Roy Babbington (acoustic bass) who would eventually join the group around the time of Seven (1973), Marc Charig (cornet), Nick Evans (trombone), Jimmy Hastings (alto flute and bass clarinet) and Alan Skidmore (tenor saxophone). All of the musicians are top shelf.
Although I loved the "straighter" jazz of tunes including Teeth (9:12) and Kings and Queens (5:02), I also liked the explosion of highly dissonant free jazz on Fletcher's Blemish (4:35) and the spacier sections of the lengthy (a little over 20:00) Virtually suite that feature the ostinati (repeated patterns) characteristic of minimalism. There are other neat techniques employed on this lengthy suite including electronic experimentation and tape loops etc. The arrangements for the brass and woodwind instruments are very interesting and at times are reminiscent of "big band" jazz.
This reissue by One-Way Records is OK and while the sound quality is excellent, the skimpy liner notes leave a lot to be desired. Then again, many of the One-Way releases are out of print and seem to be commanding fairly high prices.
All in all, this is a great album released at a time when the musical landscape (in rock) was wide open and essentially untamed. Fourth is very highly recommended to those folks that enjoy jazz and avant-garde styles just as much as rock. Other great albums include Third (1970), Six (1973) and Seven (1973).
Great Progressive Rock doesn't need a guitar January 16, 2008
ol'guy
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I had been at a musical festival when I first heard these guys but we all know that doesn't necessarily translate into enjoying their studio albums.....I did and still do. I NEVER would have thought I would enjoy music that did not have a guitar...but there you are! "Fourth" is innovative, melodic, intricate, and intriguing.
The Soft's "Fourth" album gets the 24-bit remastering it deserves!!! It's great!!! Virtually!!! March 26, 2007
Jason Pumphrey (Falls Church, Virginia United States)
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
Great job again Sony/BMG UK!!! This great 24-bit remastered "Fourth" by the legendary Soft Machine sounds superb!!! This is the last album with Robert Wyatt on Drums,and like always,his playing is superlative!!! Hugh Hopper,Mike Ratledge and the great late Elton Dean are also in fine form here!!! A great companion piece to "Third"!!! A great spin!!! Two thumbs up!!! Five stars!!! A+
 Fourth June 15, 2005
R.Cittern (Springfield)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This album is very different then Soft Machine's first albums (do ya think).Third resembles it but Third is longer and more easy to follow to. These songs are the most complex,you have to listen to them over and over disecting every insterment role. Teeth,the albums great opener,is jazz from a diffrent place insterments never stop the beat is far-fetched and the solos never stop.Mike Ratledge really shines on organ and the horn section is just head banging. Kings and Queens is a repetive bass line with Elton Dean soloing,and for some reason some of the bass part sound like the one off of Carol Ann a little. Fletcher's Blemish is just like an ending to a song just along gated to about four minutes,if you hear Deans sax it would sound really comtemerary and Kenny G-ish if by it's self. Virtrally is a little boring in the middle of part two but part one is got a marching feel with Robert Wyatts drumming and the bass deut between Babbington and Hopper. Three and Four has got and ambient soft feel to it with the repeating sax and bass line and mendering organ. You would probably listen to 3,5,6,7 to get the feel of this one then go ahead with the other superb albums.
The Last Great Soft Machine Disc March 11, 2005
P. McKenna (Atlanta GA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
"FOUR" captured the Soft Machine at its creative zenith, just before Robert Wyatt's departure and the band's subsequent descent into bland mediocrity.
With an expanded lineup, SM veeers dangerously into straight-ahead jazz territory but still retains more than enough of their quirky psychedelic edge to keep you glued to the edge of your seat.
Compositionally, there's not a weak idea on here, and the core lineup of Mike Ratledge, Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean and Robert Wyatt plays as ferociously as ever, with some great contributions from upright bassist Roy Babbington, trombonist Nick Evans, Jimmy Hastings on alto flute and bass clarinet along with Alan Skidmore on tenor sax and cornetist Marc Charig adding to the maelstrom.
"Teeth" opens the disc with a feisty romp into modern post-bop jazz with twisted yet fun melody lines aplenty, punctuated by Mike Ratledge's distinct fuzz-organ. This is my favorite track on the album.
"Kings and Queens" is a more brooding piece giving each of the guest musicians lots of room to explore.
"Fletchers Blemish" is a rather sinister and ominous tune with some VERY twisted melody lines, that would be right at home in a suspense, mystery or horror flick fo some sort.
"Virtually Parts I - IV" is a wildly varied more free-form excursion that will hypnotise you if you let it, a rather interesting way to end.
All told, a VERY worthwhile effort especially if you like to hear the Soft's more pronounced jazz tendencies come to the fore.
And sad to say, this was the last time that Soft Machine would ever achieve this level of brilliance and creativity again.
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