I just did a shallow dive into the history of Soft Machine, after discovering them on a Spotify progressive rock playlist. Turns out the album I chose to start with, their eighth, which features their most played song, is the first offering of a very different lineup with a different feel and style to go along with them. It begs the question of why they still went with the original name, when most of the original creative forces had departed. This was even the final appearance of founding member Mike Ratledge, who was the only one remaining, which furthers the argument for a new identity.
New Album A Day 