(Canterbury Scene / Progressive Rock) Sweet OKey Supersister - Spiral Staircase - 1974 (2009), APE (image+.cue), lossless

SUPERSISTER had a sound very much in the Canterbury scene, and if I had to compare them to another band it would with no doubt be

CARAVAN. They blend their own Dutch ideals and a touch humor into a unique mixture of progressive rock. Plenty of flute or sax or both

can be heard weaving in and out of the varied organ and piano. Influences from FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION, some WIGWAM

(lots of organ) and from THE SOFT MACHINE (especially from the time when THE SOFT MACHINE was a trio) can be heard.
"Present From Nancy" (1971) is a incredible debut-album featuring greats tracks, lots of flute and distorbed organ and a vocalist who

sounds quite a bit like Richard SINCLAIR. "Present from Nancy" and "To the Highest Ridder" are generally the recommended starting

places and work your way forward. One of the absolutely best groups from the Dutch progressive rock scene.

While many assume this is the final SUPERSISTER album it was actually released under the name SWEET OKAY SUPERSISTER and is really a

Sacha Van Geest solo album with SUPERSISTER members. So i guess it's close enough to be considered part of their catalogue ? Well on

the official SUPERSISTER web-site you won't find this album but personally i don't have a problem with this being listed under

SUPERSISTER. After the lack of success with their previous album "Iskander" Charlie Mariano left, eventually going back to Germany

where he would play with Eberhard Weber. It is a shame that "Iskander" didn't do better because it was so good. The band asked Elton

Dean to take Charlie's place and Elton accepted only to see the band eventually implode. On the official SUPERSISTER web-site Elton

Dean is still listed as a former member. Man i'd loved to have heard an album with him on board in the same style as "Iskander". But

again i have to say that Charlie was fantastic on "Iskander". Anyway "Spiral Staircase" sees the band continuing where "Pudding En

Gisteren" left off but even more sillier. In fact Frank Zappa and GONG are good examples of what we get here. Hey with Sacha back you

know that humour would be back too."Retroschizve" opens with the sound of traffic before the piano and more takes over. Spoken words

from Sacha after a minute with pleasing music. Some chipmunk vocals join in too. Get used to it(haha). It blends into "Jelly Bean Hop"

where it turns fuller right away. Great sound. It settles with spoken words. The tempo keeps changing and we get more chipmunk vocals.

"Dangling Dingdongs" is such a good song. Sparse intricate sounds before it picks up with bass 1 1/2 minutes in. Drums join in too.

Killer stuff, especially the drumming. Vocal melodies help out. Samples late of horses walking and whistling. Then we hear someone

walking away before it ends with chaotic sounds and breaking glass. "Sylver Song ( Graon, Stamp, Shock, Hoot)" opens with whispered

words then some silly singing in the GONG style. Music before 2 minutes as it kicks in to a full sound. Chunky bass too. Back to

silliness after 2 1/2 minutes to end it."Cookies, Teacups, Buttercups" opens with mandolin and water sounds. Bag pipes eventually lead

with marching styled drums and vocals. Catchy. "Gi, Ga, Go(Gollumble Jafers)" opens with piano and multi-vocals. An Island vibe comes

in and a singer who sounds like Kevin Ayers. Horns replace the vocals but not for long. Chipmunk vocals and laughter end it. Too funny.

"It Had To Be" is piano and reserved vocals. Backing vocals and vibes too. "Nosey Parkers" is piano, drums and vocals with silly

background vocals. I like the drumming and sound 1 1/2 minutes in with those GONG-like vocal expressions. "We Steel So Frange

(Eplogue)" is a catchy mid-paced tune with vocals. We do get an instrumental break later. A must for fans of GONG and Zappa.

- Robert Jan Stips / keyboards, lead vocals, vibes
- Ron van Eck / bass guitar
- Sacha van Geest / flutes, vocals
Guests :
- Mien van den Heuvel / mandolin
- Hans Alegres / steeldrum
- Inge van Iersel / backing vocals
- Jose van Iersel / backing vocals
- Jan Hollestelle / bass
- Bertus Borgers / sax
- Dick De Jong / bagpipes
- Louis Debij / drums
- Mr. De Wolf / horns