The brand new Soft Machine studio album ‘Other Doors’ has now been recorded, mixed and mastered and it is time to get it ready to send out into the world. Our first studio album since 2018’s ‘Hidden Details’ it marks a new chapter in the history of the band – both an ending and a beginning for this unique band that has now been in existence for 55 years. This studio album sees the final studio appearance of the legend that is John Marshall, our wonderful drummer. John played his heart out on this album and since completing the recording and playing one incredible last gig at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s Club in July 2022, he has decided to retire as a result of ongoing health issues.

The album also sees the introduction of bass player Fred Baker to the band following the retirement of the one and only Roy Babbington,

We, John, John, Fred and Theo are all very proud are all very proud of this new album as it features some great new music and inspired playing as well as the reimagining of two Soft Machine classics – ‘Penny Hitch’ (from ‘Seven’) and ‘Joy of a Toy’ (from the first album)

Atmospheric improvisations, psychadelic free jazz, burning jazz rock, screaming guitar, hypnotic looped alto flutes, fretless bass grooves, powerful drums and experimental electronic music,  Soft Machine continues to pursue its musically ambitious, wide ranging, jazz based but without boundaries agenda in creating the most ambitious and adventurous heartfelt music we can imagine. We hope you like it as much as we enjoyed making it. With Cover image by Lasse Hoile and Design by Carl Glover.

But we need your help for the final stage of the process. We need you to be a part of our team as we are making the album on John Etheridge’s own label Dyad in the UK and Europe, and Leonardo Pavkovic’ s Moonjune label in the USA and Japan. Plus thanks to the Tonefloat label in the Netherlands, the album is being released in a beautiful special vinyl edition, complete with a whole extra side of otherwise unreleased bonus tracks.

To pay the considerable costs of making and releasing the album and so that we, the musicians, will actually get paid for it we are offering some special packages to raise funds.

Package Options

OPTION 1 If you would like to be an Executive Producer and be credited as such in the CD sleeve notes and also on the Soft Machine Website, plus have a CD signed by all four members of the band, this will cost £ 80 +postage and packaging. Only 40 places available Plus your CD will be sent to you two weeks in advance of the worldwide release date. Plus buyers will receive a 24 bit HD digital download of the album

OPTION 2 For a 2LP 180gm vinyl edition of the album (complete with the whole extra side of bonus tracks) signed by all four members of the band, this will cost £60 +postage and packaging. Plus buyers will receive a 24 bit HD digital download of the album

OPTION 3   For a CD edition of the album signed by all four members of the band, this will cost £30 +postage and packaging.  Plus your CD will be sent to you two weeks in advance of the worldwide release date. Plus buyers will receive a 24 bit HD digital download of the album.

Please note as John Marshall will not be touring with the band following the release of the album, this will be the only way you can receive copies of the album signed by all of the four of the members of the band who play on the album. They will undoubtedly become collector’s items.

To sign up for these packages please see below.

These will only be active from 9 February 2023 to 30 March 2023.

General pre-sale of the CD and 2LP vinyl will start on 21 April 2023.

Other Doors will be released on  30 June 2023.

Thank you very much

Soft Machine (John, John, Theo and Fred)