Formed in Canterbury in 1966, Soft Machine emerged as one of the defining bands of the UK underground scene, alongside acts like Pink Floyd. Originally featuring Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Mike Ratledge, the group quickly established a reputation for pushing musical boundaries, blending psychedelic rock with jazz improvisation and experimental structures. Their early work helped shape the influential Canterbury scene, and by the early 1970s they had evolved into pioneers of jazz-rock fusion, creating complex, forward-thinking music that would go on to influence generations of progressive and experimental artists.

Across decades of constant reinvention and changing line-ups, Soft Machine have remained defined by innovation rather than nostalgia. From their shift toward instrumental jazz fusion in the mid-1970s to later incarnations including Soft Machine Legacy and the band's re-emergence under the original name in 2016, their sound has continued to evolve while retaining its exploratory spirit. Today they stand as one of the most enduring and influential names in British progressive music, still performing and recording with the same commitment to musical adventure that has defined them from the start.