Stone me… sometimes you have to side with Emperor Joseph II: “Too many notes, Mr Softs, too many notes…” It is of course splendid that a team of hard-working Soft Machine lovers have restored these two concerts, released together for the first time (though previously available individually).

But with nearly three hours of music, with some overlapping materials, and not always the best-balanced sound, this is not a release that many will indulge in all at once. But in our binge-indulgent culture maybe I’m wrong. Either way, Softs zealots and completists will enjoy this massive, at times compelling, release.

With Soft Machine it’s always intriguing to reflect on how band changes impacted on the music. In fact, the next time a band called Soft Machine played Norway five years after this, none of this band were present.

Straddling the Third and Fourth albums, these concerts were among the ‘classic’ quartet’s last gigs, with Wyatt soon to leave (or be sacked, however you like it). He doesn’t sing and his voice improv is distended, even painful.

Additionally, there’s an edge to the individual soloing that pushes toward incoherence. Yet curiously that’s part of the appeal; this is a band that won’t let go, won’t compromise, won’t relent. Too many notes, maybe, but most are still bloody good ones.