ISKANDER

One of the most brillant and daring albums of Dutch progressive rock and the major work of Supersister. For their last album they have assembled a great line up, consisting of master mind and band genius Robert-Jan Stips on keyboards, bass player Ron van Eck, drummer Herman van Boeijen & jazz-ace Charley Mariano on saxes and similar stuff. Iskander is, as the name well implies, a concept album about the life and times of Alexander the Great. The music on the album isn't easily accessible and it misses the familiar sense of humor, so well known from their previous albums. I think, that just because that absence of this often too adolescent "humor" the "Iskander" sounds far more mature than the other albums. The playing is impeccable and the compositions and arrangements are perfect. The music on "Iskander" ranges from complete Crimsonian chaos in "The Battle" to soft and gentle songs like "Roxane" & "Looking Back" with some fine flute parts to enjoy.The flute part in "Looking Back" is still played by the band's previous flute player Sacha van Geest. The album even contains a track that was released as a single "Bagoas", but that one didn't really reach the charts, although the band could be seen playing it in several rock shows. The band is classified as Canterbury, but I think they sound different. I can advise anyone who wants to discover the Dutch masters of progressive rock and who isn't affraid of a solid dose of jazz added, to try out this great album. Erik de Beer.