Air Mail

Soft Machine - Alive & Well, Recorded In Paris (1977) {2CD Air Mail Japan MiniLP Blu-spec CD AIRAC-1669~70 rel 2012}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 636 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 224 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 530 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1977, 2012 Air Mail Recordings Japan / Soft Machine | AIRAC-1669/70
Jazz / Jazz Rock / Canterbury Scene / Art Rock

Album release from The Soft Machine featuring footage of the band's concert in Paris in 1977. Originally released in 1978. Features cardboard sleeve and remastering. Includes a Japanese obi and a description. On the band's first live album, 1978's Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris, Soft Machine's personnel changes continue, with Steve Cooke replacing Roy Babbington on bass, and violinist Ric Saunders joining since the 1976 studio album Softs, as guitarist John Etheridge, keyboardist Karl Jenkins, and drummer John Marshall remain in place. (Since this is the group's first album not to feature any participation from an original member of Soft Machine, a name change might have been ethically, if not commercially, advisable.) Like Softs, Alive & Well is largely a vehicle for the compositions of Jenkins, who wrote nine of 11 tracks.

Soft Machine - Softs (1976) {Air Mail Japan MiniLP Blu-spec CD AIRAC-1668 rel 2012}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 299 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 106 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 376 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1976, 2012 Air Mail Recordings Japan / Soft Machine | AIRAC-1668
Jazz / Jazz Rock / Canterbury Scene / Art Rock

Cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue from Soft Machine featuring the high-fidelity Blu-spec CD format (compatible with standard CD players) and 2012 24-bit remastering. The cardboard sleeve faithfully replicates the UK LP. Includes a booklet written in English. Part of a three-album Soft Machine Blu-spec CD cardboard sleeve reissue series featuring albums "Bundles," "Softs," and "Alive And Well Recorded In Paris." At this point in the band's history, Soft Machine might be considered an example of Theseus' paradox, akin to the original axe that George Washington used to cut down the cherry tree – original except that the head had been replaced three times and the handle twice. On Softs, Mike Ratledge, the only remaining original bandmember present on Bundles, the group's preceding Harvest LP, was relegated to guest status, contributing synthesizer to only two tracks, "Song of Aeolus" and "Ban-Ban Caliban."

Tony McPhee - The Two Sides Of Tony (T.S.) McPhee (1973) {Air Mail Archive Japan AIRAC-1072, Cardboard Sleeve rel 2004}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 232 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 92 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 53 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1973, 2004 WWA Records / Air Mail Archive Japan | AIRAC-1072
Rock / Blues Rock / Psychedelic Rock

Aptly titled, Two Sides of Tony McPhee not only explores McPhee's conceptions about love, relationships, religion, and aging, but the album is divided up musically, showcasing his talent as both a guitarist and a keyboard player. After displaying his keenness for composing a concept album with Split, a piece that he recorded with his band the Groundhogs based on the complexities of schizophrenia, McPhee decided to record an album that was more exclusive and personal. The result was Two Sides of Tony McPhee, with McPhee playing an acoustic and electric guitar for the first four tracks, then switching to three different synthesizers and an electric piano for side two, a lengthy spoken poem entitled "The Hunt."

After Family concluded their second stateside tour in mid-1971 they were to again face personnel changes as John Weider (bass) was replaced by John Wetton (bass/guitar/vocals) just in time to chip in for Fearless, their sixth long-player in four years…

For a swan song, this is pretty a good one. Generally, at this point in a band's career, when personnel changes become more frequent, live shows become more unpredictable, and substance use seems to become more central to the band than singing and songwriting…

The first four tracks of Family's Anyway were recorded at Croydon's Fairfield Hall, and while their sound throughout these songs is messy, overly loud, and remarkably bottom-heavy, their is an emitted energy that would change Family's persona from this point on…