Bundles (album): Difference between revisions
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[[File:1975 bundles.jpg|right|200px]]Bundles is a 1975 album by [[Soft Machine]] that features Allan on electric and acoustic guitar. He also wrote two tunes. This version of the band was leaning in a jazz-rock direction. Karl Jenkins had joined in 1972, and became a dominant force in the band, writing the majority of the tunes on this album. The centerpiece is the five-part "Hazard Profile", and in particular part I, which contains one of Allan's most well known solos, clocking in at over six minutes. The solo was recorded live in one take with all of the band. At this point, Allan had really started to get a handle on how to record his guitar, and the notes were flowing with apparent ease. His legato style was already unique by this point. Even if he hadn't continue to refine it in the years to come, his performance here would be enough to secure him a place in the guitar playing hall of fame. Harmonically, his solos were still relatively straightforward, and he would keep on woodshedding seriously in the years to come. There's a relaxed flow to the overall band's performance that is still enjoyable to listen to five decades later. We also get a rare and special treat in "Gone Sailing": Allan plays a 12-string guitar with an alternate tuning that in some ways points forward to "I.O.U.", but in other ways stands out as totally unique in his entire discography. | [[File:1975 bundles.jpg|right|200px]]Bundles is a 1975 album by [[Soft Machine]] that features Allan on electric and acoustic guitar. He also wrote two tunes. This version of the band was leaning in a jazz-rock direction. Karl Jenkins had joined in 1972, and became a dominant force in the band, writing the majority of the tunes on this album. The centerpiece is the five-part "Hazard Profile", and in particular part I, which contains one of Allan's most well known early solos, clocking in at over six minutes. The solo was recorded live in one take with all of the band. At this point, Allan had really started to get a handle on how to record his guitar, and the notes were flowing with apparent ease. His legato style was already unique by this point. Even if he hadn't continue to refine it in the years to come, his performance here would be enough to secure him a place in the guitar playing hall of fame. Harmonically, his solos were still relatively straightforward, and he would keep on woodshedding seriously in the years to come. There's a relaxed flow to the overall band's performance that is still enjoyable to listen to five decades later. We also get a rare and special treat in "Gone Sailing": Allan plays a 12-string guitar with an alternate tuning that in some ways points forward to "I.O.U.", but in other ways stands out as totally unique in his entire discography. | ||
==Track listing== | ==Track listing== | ||
{|class='wikitable' | {|class='wikitable' | ||
|+[[Soft Machine]]: Bundles (1975) ([[Allan Holdsworth Discography|D]]) | |+[[Soft Machine]]: Bundles (1975) ([[Allan Holdsworth Discography|D]]) ([https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kQQLeMAf0Nl1-CKeziCf66Z8rm60ejGfg YT]) | ||
|- | |- | ||
! | ! | ||
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'''Mike Ratledge''': Keyboards<br> | '''Mike Ratledge''': Keyboards<br> | ||
'''Ray Warleigh''': Flute on "The Floating World"<br> | '''Ray Warleigh''': Flute on "The Floating World"<br> | ||
=Summary of quotes on "Bundles"= | =Summary of quotes on "Bundles"= | ||
In 1976, Allan Holdsworth played an important role in the album "Bundles" by Soft Machine, where he delivered two remarkable guitar solos. The first of these solos was featured on the track "Hazard Profile, Pt. II." This solo displayed Holdsworth's exceptional speed and smooth technique. | In 1976, Allan Holdsworth played an important role in the album "Bundles" by Soft Machine, where he delivered two remarkable guitar solos. The first of these solos was featured on the track "Hazard Profile, Pt. II." This solo displayed Holdsworth's exceptional speed and smooth technique. | ||
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In a later interview in 1980, Holdsworth reflected on his time with Soft Machine and their album "Bundles." He mentioned that he joined the band for about a year and that it was a unique experience for him, as he had never played in odd time signatures before. They recorded the album "Bundles" together, and he used a Gibson ES-175 guitar going directly into his AC-30 amplifier for the solos. Interestingly, during the recording of "Hazard Profile, Pt. I," he accidentally left about five bars of silence in the solo, which was later filled with additional notes in post-production because the band decided to keep the track as it was. ''[This summary was written by ChatGPT in 2023 based on the quotes below.]'' | In a later interview in 1980, Holdsworth reflected on his time with Soft Machine and their album "Bundles." He mentioned that he joined the band for about a year and that it was a unique experience for him, as he had never played in odd time signatures before. They recorded the album "Bundles" together, and he used a Gibson ES-175 guitar going directly into his AC-30 amplifier for the solos. Interestingly, during the recording of "Hazard Profile, Pt. I," he accidentally left about five bars of silence in the solo, which was later filled with additional notes in post-production because the band decided to keep the track as it was. ''[This summary was written by ChatGPT in 2023 based on the quotes below.]'' | ||
''See also [[Soft Machine]].'' | |||
=Quotes on Bundles= | =Quotes on Bundles= | ||
==[[Terry Theise’s electric guitar top ten (Guitar magazine 1976)]]== | ==[[Terry Theise’s electric guitar top ten (Guitar magazine 1976)]]== | ||
He has recorded with Soft Machine on "Bundles", playing two extraordinary long solos. The first of these is on Hazard Profile, Pt. II and it is a monster. Rhythmically, it utilises a three note pattern which recurs at frequent intervals, and which starts the solo off. The amazing Holdsworth speed is well displayed, and it’s so smooth; the notes glide out rather than tear out (as is the case with McLaughlin). And the lines themselves are substantive, irrespective of the velocity at which they’re expelled. Modes with chromatically altered notes, dissonances, even the occasional blues lick, all are fused into a surging motion, rising and falling. At two points in the solo, the accompaniment shifts from the droning tonic to a chorus of changes which Holdsworth follows effortlessly. Ingeniously at one point he changes two notes in a repeating line which perfectly address the changing harmony underneath. He is also featured on the title track which leads into Land Of The Bag Snake, in which a repeated sixteen measure chorus is divided into four changes. The dynamics of the guitar solo lie in the tension which immediately precedes each change, i.e. as anticipation of it leads to execution of it, it is again a fine solo. | He has recorded with Soft Machine on "Bundles", playing two extraordinary long solos. The first of these is on Hazard Profile, Pt. II and it is a monster. Rhythmically, it utilises a three note pattern which recurs at frequent intervals, and which starts the solo off. The amazing Holdsworth speed is well displayed, and it’s so smooth; the notes glide out rather than tear out (as is the case with McLaughlin). And the lines themselves are substantive, irrespective of the velocity at which they’re expelled. Modes with chromatically altered notes, dissonances, even the occasional blues lick, all are fused into a surging motion, rising and falling. At two points in the solo, the accompaniment shifts from the droning tonic to a chorus of changes which Holdsworth follows effortlessly. Ingeniously at one point he changes two notes in a repeating line which perfectly address the changing harmony underneath. He is also featured on the title track which leads into Land Of The Bag Snake, in which a repeated sixteen measure chorus is divided into four changes. The dynamics of the guitar solo lie in the tension which immediately precedes each change, i.e. as anticipation of it leads to execution of it, it is again a fine solo. | ||
==[[Allan Holdsworth (Guitar Player 1980)]]== | ==[[Allan Holdsworth (Guitar Player 1980)]]== | ||
I did a few light gigs in some pubs with [drummer] John Marshall, who at that time was also with a jazz-rock band called Soft Machine. I enjoyed playing with John, and he mentioned to the other guys in the band that a guitarist might fit in. They asked me along as a guest to a couple of trial gigs. We did a short English tour, and they asked me to join. So I stayed with them for about a year. | I did a few light gigs in some pubs with [drummer] John Marshall, who at that time was also with a jazz-rock band called Soft Machine. I enjoyed playing with John, and he mentioned to the other guys in the band that a guitarist might fit in. They asked me along as a guest to a couple of trial gigs. We did a short English tour, and they asked me to join. So I stayed with them for about a year. | ||
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==[[Mike Pachelli Show (video transcript 1991)]]== | ==[[Mike Pachelli Show (video transcript 1991)]]== | ||
MP: And the album Bundles has a tune on it, it’s called Hazard Profile, it has a very long solo on it. Is that like the longest of yours to date. | MP: And the album Bundles has a tune on it, it’s called Hazard Profile, it has a very long solo on it. Is that like the longest of yours to date. | ||
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AH Archives: https://www.facebook.com/AllanHoldsworthArchives/posts/193221927518375 | AH Archives: https://www.facebook.com/AllanHoldsworthArchives/posts/193221927518375 | ||
Ed's blog: | Ed's blog: http://threadoflunacy.blogspot.no/2017/06/4-soft-machine.html | ||
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Soft-Machine-Bundles/release/990344 | Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Soft-Machine-Bundles/release/990344 | ||
