"Fourth" is the fourth album by the British jazz rock band Soft Machine, released in 1971. The album is a transition from their previous psychedelic rock sound towards a more jazz-influenced style, which was a consistent approach in their subsequent albums.
It is noted for being the last of their albums to feature drummer and founding member Robert Wyatt who later left the band. Unlike their previous records, "Fourth" is an entirely instrumental album with complex and layered compositions which showcase each band members' musical virtuosity.
This album also signals their last release on Columbia Records before their shift to Harvest Records. It features fusion music that combines elements of jazz and rock which was a novel concept in the early 70s. Critics have often remarked on the improvisational quality of the music which paved the way for future practices in jazz and progressive rock.
The band lineup during this album included Hugh Hopper on bass, Mike Ratledge on piano and organ, Elton Dean on saxophone, and Robert Wyatt on drums. Elton Dean and Robert Wyatt later on pursued their solo career. The album is often cited as a significant influence on the Canterbury scene, a musical movement in the late 1960s and 1970s in Canterbury, England.
