Ratledge

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Description

This is my humble attempt at capturing the sound of The Soft Machine circa 1969 - specifically the electric piano sound of Mike Ratledge. This is not a cover - just a vibe.
One of my favorite groups - their CD Live at Paradiso 1969 is a great example of the band as a trio at it's peak.
Please pardon my fake jazz posturings here - this is really out of my reach - but at least it's only 1:30.

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Song Stats

Hits: 1952
Comments: 45
Fans: 29
Plays: 159
Downloads: 80

Uploaded: Dec 25, 2009 - 09:37:29 AM
Last Updated: Dec 25, 2009 - 09:37:29 AM Last Played: May 22, 2013 - 03:22:20 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Song Actions

Keywords:

The Soft Machine (1), Mike Ratledge (1), Hugh Hopper (1), Robert Wyatt (2)

Hardware:

MacBook,Oxygen8 keyboard,Peavey bass

Software:

GB08

Comments

paul f. page	paul f. page said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	And what an interesting 1:30 it is, Bud. Certainly jarred my brain on Christmas morning! I can't say I understand what this is, but it seems like it could really GO somewhere...and you're just the guy to take it there. ... Merry Christmas. Check out my latest song called I Speak Of Love

bud	bud said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Psul - you might find The Soft Machine interesting Very structured and thought out music with a twist. If I were a better player I would love to take this somewhere - but my limitations seem to prevent that. Check out my latest song called ditto

awigze	awigze said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Esoteric cool vibe. I had never heard of Soft Machine.. but oh wow, to have been playing in '69, Ratledge and the English Pschedelic scene. Most radical. This from a West Texas Hayseed. nice post. Check out my latest song called Dark Waters w/scofugate, ktb, Pickquickrecords, Ren-Tin-10

bud	bud said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Andy - you would fit right in here - a later incarnation of the band featured the saxophonist Elton Dean. Check out CD's Third or Fourth.BTW - I heard that hayseeds have psychotropic properties. Check out my latest song called ditto

awigze	awigze said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	ah yes... that would be hempseed. Check out my latest song called Dark Waters w/scofugate, ktb, Pickquickrecords, Ren-Tin-10

awigze	awigze said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	I mean cottonseed Check out my latest song called Dark Waters w/scofugate, ktb, Pickquickrecords, Ren-Tin-10

egobandit	egobandit said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	keep Posturing I like it, your pushing your envelope .the timing on this is outstanding. Very cool ! Check out my latest song called walkin out my door

bud	bud said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Thanks Tim - when melodic invention falls short - timing is everything. Check out my latest song called ditto

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Rhodes distortion I don't know the Soft Machine, but I surely recognize this kind of music. Very nice. I'd tame the low frequencies a bit, though. Check out my latest song called Fourth Candle

bud	bud said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Good point on the lows - I'll have to take a look at that. Thanks for stopping by. Check out my latest song called ditto

Relic67	Relic67 said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	cool I'm a fan of the soft machine and this is a fine tribute. I'm not sure it's really out of your reach... I think of taste, coolness, creativity and heart when I think of their music (all of which you have) rather than technical virtuosity.... good christmas listening! Check out my latest song called Someone Else's Thing

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Very nice comment thanks so much. Hope you had a good holiday. Check out my latest song called ditto

magnatone	magnatone said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Ratledge BUD!!! Merry Christmas - what a cool Christmas present to MJ! Love this sound - can't imagine the way your musical brain works - you blow my mind regularly! Thanks! Check out my latest song called Blind Love (Seeing Heart) - Orchestral Version

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Cheers Karen So glad you dropped by. Check out my latest song called ditto

Feter	Feter said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Ratledge Man ..this is deep amazing keys and bass .. wonderful intro to a coming blast song like any of King Crimson's blast songs ..this is the real essence of the late 60s ..kudos ..thnx alot for sharin !!!! Check out my latest song called Roll with it

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Hey Feter I always appreciate your enthusiasm. Keep rocking. Check out my latest song called ditto

Z293	Z293 said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Soft Machine I watched your Youtube post of Soft Machine first and had to come check this out. Cool and I don't think it's out of your reach you represented them well. Check out my latest song called La Pavillon

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Much appreciated the band went trough many changes - I really like whatthey were doing from 68 - 71. Check out my latest song called ditto

davisamerica	davisamerica said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	dog.... u keep pushing and i will always follow... merry christmas kevin Check out my latest song called 12

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Hope you had a god Christmas thanks for the kind comments. Check out my latest song called ditto

Bob6stringer	Bob6stringer said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Go nuts! Fake jazz, or jazzy rock, don't matter to me. Great vibe. I've heard of Soft Machine forever. And maybe before I return to dust, I'll give'em an ear. But this is great! Go nuts with this vibe anytime. Shout to this for some lyrics, scat-it if you have to! Check out my latest song called Call Me (Turn to Me Reprise)

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Check out Third it's a classic four song dbl.lp. Check out my latest song called ditto

sonnyjim

sonnyjim said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)

This must be
right after Robert Wyatt left the band: the jazz is strong, the lyrics are lacking. You've got the vibe, though; I felt certain that at any time the music would shift into some impossibly labrynthine, heavy theme. Fine job!
Vic Diesel's comment raises an interesting question: all my Soft Machine albums are a little murky sounding, so isn't it appropriate that this should be a little untamed in the bottom end, as it were?

Surprisingly enough, I think about this issue pretty often.

Check out my latest song called A Bell In The Valley

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	No way I coud try to sing like Wyatt I sort of like the murk of their albums - it kept them sounding like stoner jazz - which I guess is what it was. Check out my latest song called ditto

ktb	ktb said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	a vibe now I will most definitely google and listen to soft machine. a very fluid vibe. would be fun to jam over. Check out my latest song called Blackwater (by Tokai)

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	I wish I could have sustained this a bit more for anyone who would care to jam. Thanks for dropping by. Check out my latest song called ditto

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 1244 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	cool daddy-o really like that bass when it gets a movin' jazzy for sure. here's the funny thing i was just working on a song with a electric piano before i tuned into here for a listen. i'm not sure if I'll keep it. it's hard to get it to cut through the mix. besides you beat me to it! :-) Check out my latest song called Darkest Skies

bud	bud said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Go for the Fender Rhodes add plenty of distortion - you'll love it. Thanks for the bass comment - it gets a bit wobbly - but I did my best. Check out my latest song called ditto

johnnyblues	johnnyblues said 1243 days ago (December 25th, 2009)
	Boss Kick-ass Bass, drums. Love the feel. Nice! Check out my latest song called LongBranch

Youra	Youra said 1243 days ago (December 26th, 2009)
	So Soft… Back in town, just to hear you playing these vibrating chords, full of nostalgia. I saw your topic in the forum, thanks for the groove. Merry Christmas, bud. Check out my latest song called Fortin Blues

Daugrin	Daugrin said 1243 days ago (December 26th, 2009)
	Bud is Flexible Bud you are stretching in all manner of ways. Nicely done here, few would tread into the Soft Machine bag and emulate with success. Daug Check out my latest song called Ride Yer Bike

ted23	ted23 said 1243 days ago (December 26th, 2009)
	cool as i have no idea of the bands music you've tried to captured i cant compare. But i can say without being influenced by them that this is really groovy. That deep synthy piano is great. I love that noise.... Check out my latest song called Living Dead Love Song in Z minor (HALLOWEEN 2012)

racerat	racerat said 1243 days ago (December 26th, 2009)
	budledge Anything with "rat" in the title is cool by me. I can't say that jazz posturings are outside your reach, the bud-ster reaches and the world of tune-age is his oyster. Very hip Kev. P Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

scofugate	scofugate said 1242 days ago (December 26th, 2009)
	The Soft Machine I must check them out now. I love this stuff! I never heard the electric piano in this type of tune..it works. Great tune..I don't see your limitations Bud. Check out my latest song called Prelude and Jam W/Ibstrat

Lennon714	Lennon714 said 1242 days ago (December 26th, 2009)
	Limitations? Hardly. This just sounds good, and that's all that matters. I'd like it to go a bit longer. Check out my latest song called Broke

echoroom	echoroom said 1242 days ago (December 27th, 2009)
	Softie Fake? Sounds like real jazz to me, with added distortion. Great sunday afternoon listening before the apocalypse Check out my latest song called Sweet Isolation

sschedra	sschedra said 1242 days ago (December 27th, 2009)
	Kev, I kept waiting for the piano. Is that the thing that sounds like an electric guitar? It is a different sound and does perc the interest. I think you can develop it a little, if you want. It could open up into a bit of a jam maybe? Stephen Check out my latest song called E Lucevan Le Stelle

spitlogic	spitlogic said 1242 days ago (December 27th, 2009)
	Interesting sound I really like the piano/bass sound you used. Nice and shakey. Check out my latest song called Measures

jiguma	jiguma said 1241 days ago (December 28th, 2009)
	Soft Machine Never heard them, but always liked the name. Pretty astounding amount of bass you've unleashed here - I think I'll chase a Soft Machine CD or video after hearing this. N Check out my latest song called News Is Gonna Break

Char	Char said 1241 days ago (December 28th, 2009)
	I'm always amazed at what one person can do. Composers would write music and hear all the instruments in their heads. Now, you can bring a facsimile of actual instruments to light by using your techie stuff. I liked it. It sounded righteous. Thanks. Check out my latest song called The Sea

Ibstrat	Ibstrat said 1241 days ago (December 28th, 2009)
	Everything you do is highly musical.I had one Soft Machine album, green cover, i think with Alan Holdsworth on Guitar? Make this longer with a fractured guitar solo! Check out my latest song called I Could Write a Book

segiperkasa	segiperkasa said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	nice percussion work.... interesting piece of music... Check out my latest song called The Dawn of Nahdamar

lengold	lengold said 1240 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	Really enjoyed that bud - even the lows to my toes. Cheers Len Check out my latest song called B E A U T I F U L

Dadai.2	Dadai.2 said 1239 days ago (December 29th, 2009)
	no apologies necessary... I like it... cool, no posturing... just some real good vibes. cheers and thanks. Check out my latest song called Come With Me

JunkyardCutiepie	JunkyardCutiepie said 1188 days ago (February 19th, 2010)
	Art rock lives Yeah I dig it. Jazz can be a very simple thing, no reason to think it's out of reach, as you've demoed. Check out my latest song called Welcome to the Neighborhood 2010

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Artist Info

Name: Kevin Jones
Location: Brooklyn NY USA

Born in Philly and living in Brooklyn, NY. My home studio work predates digital and my gigging experience was mostly in the early eighties. Lately I play out from time to time with Airport Seven and try to keep up with what's going on around here. Th... [see more]

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Genre Info

Art rock is a sub-genre of rock music that is characterized by ambitious lyrical themes and melodic or rhythmic experimentation, often extending beyond standard pop song forms and toward influences in jazz, classical, or the avant-garde. The art rock

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