Artchipel Orchestra - Artchipel Orchestra Plays Soft Machine (2014)

25 piece, big band arrangements of Facelift, Kings And Queens, Noisette, Mousetrap, Moon In June and (for an acapella quartet), Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening. Covering Soft Machine compositions is a hazardous undertaking in pursuit of which many have come to grief because it’s hard not to wind up showing all the ways in which you are not like the Soft Machine. But because Artchipel have done justice to the compositions, amplifying them with solid, intelligent arrangements, this release is a pleasure to listen to – and casts, in passing, a fascinating light on the unique qualities of the three original protagonists, since the differences are particularly illuminating. So, thought provoking as well as satisfying. In addition, dear readers, this CD is not otherwise distributed or for general sale (it was made for other purposes), so a rare opportunity.