SOFT MACHINE Fourth (CBS 64280) Robert Wyatt RARE UK 1st Pressing MINT-
  £   36
  $   48

 


£ 36 Sold For
Oct 9, 2016 Sold Date
Sep 29, 2016 Start Date
£   30 Start price
3   Number Of Bids
  Switzerland Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description


SOFT MACHINE Fourth (CBS 64280) Robert Wyatt RARE UK 1st Pressing MINT-
Very RARE UK first pressing of Soft Machine`s aptly-named "Fourth" album on CBS Records (February 1971). 
"Soft Machine's collective skill is hyper-complex and refined, as they are extremely literate in all fields of musical study. Fourth is the band's free purging of all of that knowledge, woven into noisy, smoky structures of sound. Their arcane rhythms have a stop-and-go mentality of their own that sounds incredibly fresh even though it is sonically steeped in soft and warm tones. Obviously there is a lot of skillful playing going on, as the mix of free jazz, straight-ahead jazz, and Gong-like psychedelia coalesces into a skronky plateau. Robert Wyatt's drumming is impeccable -- so perfect that it at times becomes an unnoticeable map upon which the bandmembers take their instinctive direction. Mike Ratledge's keys are warm throughout, maintaining an earthy quality that keeps its eye on the space between the ground and the heavens that Soft Machine attempt to inhabit. Elton Dean's saxophone work screams out the most inventive cadence, and since it's hardly rhythmic, it takes front and center, spitting out a crazy language." - Ken Taylor, allmusic.com
GRADING:

EX+ COVER. Original heavily textured sleeve in overall very fine condition. Please see photos for details.
- A bit of general scuffing to the spine, rendering it illegible.
- Minor scuffing along bottom edge and to one corner (at bottom, right).
- All wear to the cover is storage wear only, as the record itself is unplayed.

MINT(-) RECORD that looks unplayed. In unbelievable condition and a near-impossible find like this!
- Perfect vinyl on both sides, with impeccable audio reproduction throughout.
- The record was bought new in the mid-seventies. It has not been played more than once or twice: Pure perfection! 
- No hairlines, scuffs or any other visible signs of previous play at all!
- Original red first-pressing CBS Records labels with no spindle wear whatsoever.
- The matrix stamps in the run-off grooves read "S-64280-A1" and "S-64280-B1".
- This record is certified to be a very first UK pressing of "Fourth", released in February 1971.
PLEASE NOTE: Not to be compared with the more-often-than-not substandard vinyl on offer on eBay, this item is in honestly-graded EX+ to MINT(-) condition. For more information on the veracity and reliability of my grading, I kindly refer the prospective buyer to my feedback comments and seller rating.


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