Chapter Six - Matching Mole and M C (1972)



 

Soft Machine/Matching Mole. 1972


Matching Mole’s debut album was recorded between the months of December and February of 1972. Between sessions, the band would often play live as a form of practice and rehearsal. It was common for hosts to introduce them as “a continuation of Soft Machine”, much to the initial disgruntlement of the band.


“At the time, it was very frustrating. We understood how we were seen that way, given me and Ayers were the last remaining members of the band when we officially ‘broke up’... But I think it was Kevin, who told me one day that he remembered what Mike told him, about ‘Soft Machine being our band’. And eventually, we just embraced it and officially became the continuation of Soft Machine, a Soft Machine Mark II if you will.”

Robert Wyatt, 2014​


Most songs on Soft Machine’s fifth album, Matching Mole, were written by Robert Wyatt, with Kevin Ayers contributing two of the songs, Margaret and the centerpiece Whatevershebringswesing, Dave Sinclair contributing the song O Caroline which Wyatt put lyrics to, and Phil Miller composing the song Part of the Dance. The album was promoted with the single O Caroline / Stars (Their only non-album b-side), which was a surprise hit in America, reaching #19 on the singles chart.



    

O Caroline / Stars - Harvest 1972


The album was released on April 8th, 1972. It became Soft Machine’s best hit in America, reaching #4 on the Billboard charts.


“I feel like we got that high because it wasn’t too poppy to the point it was daft, yet it wasn’t too complicated to the point of being alienating either, it reached a fine balance if you will.”

Phil Miller, 1972​


Matching Mole

   

Front Cover                                                          Back Cover



Side A:

O Caroline (5:06) (Dave Sinclair, Robert Wyatt) [1]

Instant Pussy (3:02) (Wyatt) [1]

Signed Curtain (3:03) (Wyatt) [1]

Part of the Dance (9:12) (Phil Miller) [1]

Margaret (3:19) (Kevin Ayers) [2]

Side B:

Whatevershebringswesing (8:11) (Ayers) [2]

Instant Kitten (4:58) (Wyatt) [1]

Matching Mole (4:39) (Wyatt) [1]

Beer as in Braindeer (4:02) (Wyatt) [1]

Immediate Curtain (5:59) (Wyatt) [1]

Released: April 8th, 1972

Top position in UK charts: #1

Top position in US charts: #4

Track sources:

[1] - Matching Mole, 1972

Matching Mole - Dedicated to Hugh, But You Weren't Listening

[2] - Whatevershebringswesing, 1971


Soon after the release of the album, the band went on tour in North America for the first time since 1968, attracting audiences in the tens of thousands. However, the tour was canceled early following Dave Sinclair’s leave from the band.


“I think he returned to Caravan after his leave, it was honestly sad to see him go so soon, though we did wish him the best of luck.”

Kevin Ayers, 1987​


“Now I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but I feel that Dave just wasn’t ready for all the sudden success we had. None of us were, really. I remember Kevin almost quit himself one night while he was drunk, but the rest of us managed to talk to sense into him.”

Robert Wyatt, 2014


 

Tanglewood Tails, 1972


Meanwhile, Tanglewood Tails went on to record their next album, M C. Phil Howard who contributed to the 1971 sessions that comprise side one, left the band and was replaced by John Marshall for the 1972 recordings that make up side two. Future member Roy Babbington played double bass on side two, as a session musician. Unlike the previous album, Elton Dean's saxophone is not augmented by a brass and reeds section composed of session musicians. Elton then went on to leave the band after this album.


"Elton was, is and always has been at heart a free improviser and after a year and a half of playing Mike's songs and my pieces constructed largely on riffs in strange signatures, he dearly wanted the band to become looser... He left after bringing monster Australian drummer Phil Howard in for a short series of gigs that left Mike and me gobsmacked, feeling musically superfluous to the tempest of sound and rhythm whipped up by [them]".

Hugh Hopper, date unknown


M C

       Front Cover                                                                    Back Cover                      

Side One:

All White (6:06) (Mike Ratledge) [1] 

Drop (7:42) (Ratledge) [1]

M C  (4:57) (Hugh Hopper) [1]

Side Two:

As If  (8:02) (Ratledge) [1]

"L B O (1:54) (John Marshall) [1]

Pigling Bland  (4:24) (Ratledge) [1]

Bone (3:29) (Elton Dean) [1]

Released: July 1972

Top position in UK charts: N/A

Top position in US charts: N/A

Track sources:

[1] - Soft Machine - Fifth, 1972


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