Soft Machine

“Had there been a more sensitive or more efficient producer, it could have been much better”: The album that inspired prog’s most English movement was made in America in four days

By Sid Smith Published 27 August 26

When Kevin Ayers, Robert Wyatt and Mike Ratledge created the Canterbury scene via Soft Machine’s first record, they’d already split up

“I used Steven Wilson’s Mellotron in exchange for me guesting at his show!” Soft Machine’s efforts to make Thirteen

By Sid Smith Published 5 May 26

Theo Travis on tempting fate, revisiting a tradition, being the best-tempered line-up since the beginning in 1966, and adding a posthumous appearance by co-founder Daevid Allen

How future members of Marillion, Soft Machine and Caravan got their start via Darryl Way’s Wolf

By Chris Wheatley Published 11 April 26

The violinist’s post Curved Air band only lasted two years, but released three compelling albums in that time, and set his colleagues on course for prog greatness

Debate: What was the best prog album of 1976?

By Martin Kielty Published 24 January 26

Punk might have been on the rise but Rush, Genesis, Jon Anderson, Van der Graaf Generator, Kansas, Alan Parsons, Camel and Soft Machine released records that became all-time greats. But which one is your favourite – and why?

The Dutch quartet inspired by just five minutes of Soft Machine music to make an iconic debut album

By Malcolm Dome Published 10 December 25

Their 1970 debut album, deliberately featuring no guitars at all, was inspired by the Canterbury band’s approach and Frank Zappa’s public persona – and it attained iconic status

Meet the Canterbury scene’s international next generation

By Phil Howitt Published 19 September 25

The seeds of The Wilde Flowers have taken root all around the world. Here are just a handful of 21st-century musicians taking inspiration from the 60s and 70s

The oddball career of Kevin Ayers, quintessential English songwriter

By Max Bell Published 31 July 25

Kevin Ayers co-founded Soft Machine, influenced Bowie, shared acid trips and girlfriends with Hendrix, and knew Syd Barrett better than most