Soft Machine-Love Makes Sweet Music/Feelin’ Reelin’ Squeelin’ (1967)

Rating: 7 out of 10

Band Lineup:
Kevin Ayers-guitar, bass, vocals
Daevid Allen-bass, guitar
Robert Wyatt-drums, vocals
Mike Ratledge-keyboards

Track Listing:
Side A
1. Love Makes Sweet Music (Ayers)
Side B
2. Feelin’ Reelin’ Squeelin’ (Ayers)

The debut single by the Soft Machine was released in February 1967 on Polydor Records and is widely recognized as the first British psychedelic record. While not the absolute greatest record to be produced during this period, it serves as a strong debut for the genre, and definitely has added historical value as the first. While the original 45 is nearly impossible to find, both of these tracks are readily available on CD as part of the compilation, Out-Bloody-Rageous - An Anthology 1967 -1973, and I highly recommend that you get a copy of this cd.

“Love Makes Sweet Music”: While this song is rather poppy and does not particularly represent the psychedelic weirdness typical of the early Soft Machine, it is not exactly boring. It is fairly straightforward and has a pop feel, as if the Soft Machine were seeking a hit record and radio airtime, but not to the point of blandness. The lyrics, while mostly straightforward exultations of the joys of love, do contain a few strong, and less cliché, lines, for instance “Every night it’s the same old scene/Drinking wine ‘cause you’re scared to dream.” It features a nice, slightly distorted guitar by Ayers, and a strong, prominent bass line by Allen, which add to the psychedelic feel. Furthermore, this might be Wyatt’s strongest vocal performance while a member of the Soft Machine, as his voice does not sound as thin as usual and his scat singing at the start adds to the psychedelic feel. Overall, this song is a solid debut for the Soft Machine, with some traces of psychedelia mixed in with the pop overtones of the song. However, it is a little too straightforward to really be considered a classic.

“Feelin’ Reelin’ Squeelin’”: Nothing on the A-side of this record could possibly have prepared listeners for this song, which stands in stark opposition to commerciality of the A-side. Ayers handles the lead vocals on this track in his trademark droning baritone, though his singing is nicely complemented by another strong vocal performance by Wyatt. The tradeoffs between the two vocalists produce a cool effect, and serve to make the song quite unique. The lyrics are much more cutting edge than the A-side, as they announce a division from “straight” society, as the girl is chided for wanting to be her “father and mother,” and Ayers announces that he is “something far away.” Furthermore, while the instrumentation is somewhat subdued during the majority of the song, Ratledge’s keyboards are highlighted nicely, as is Wyatt’s drumming. There is also some great guitar work by Allen at the end, when the instrumentation comes to the forefront in a blaze of psychedelic weirdness that foreshadows the sound that the Soft Machine would achieve on the their debut album. Overall, this is a great song, which makes the dawn of British psychedelic music quite intriguing and announces at the glorious weirdness it would produce.

For those who wish to hear these songs before buying them (which I urge, as it supports the artists who created this wonderful music), here are links to each on youtube:
Love Makes Sweet Music
Feelin' Reelin' Squeelin'