Fourth

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Fourth was released in 1971, the fourth album by Soft Machine. The cover shows only the numeral 4. It is the first album that is entirely instrumental. On the previous album, Third, the band had already moved from its psychedelic and progressive early years towards instrumental jazz. Elton Dean plays alto saxophone and saxello, Mike Ratledge acoustic piano, electric piano and organ, Hugh Hopper bass and fuzz bass, and Robert Wyatt drums.

As on its predecessor, a few tracks receive help from additional musicians: Mark Charig on cornet, Nick Evans on trombone, Roy Babbington on double bass and others on saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. Hopper wrote most of the compositions. It was the last album with Wyatt, one of the founders. He had already made a solo album, The End of an Ear, and then started the group Matching Mole, a pun on the French Machine Molle, soft machine.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Teeth9:14Apple Music ↗
2. 2Kings and Queens5:01Apple Music ↗
3. 3Fletcher's Blemish4:37Apple Music ↗
4. 4Virtually, Pt. 15:16Apple Music ↗
5. 5Virtually, Pt. 27:06Apple Music ↗
6. 6Virtually, Pt. 34:33Apple Music ↗
7. 7Virtually, Pt. 43:23Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗