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Supersister - To the Highest Bidder CD (album) cover

TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER

Supersister

 

Canterbury Scene

4.26 | 324 ratings

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felonafan
5 stars Since 1997 (when I had listened this album for the first time) I listen it often from time to time. It seems to me that "To The Highest Bidder" is a dramatic example of the underestimated album, and Supersister is one of the most underrated prog-bands in the world! (when I had been in Holland in February - March 2000, I could not find discs of Supersister in Dutch musical shops unlike Focus, Earth and Fire and other prog Dutch bands!) Imagine very beautiful progressive rock with fine melodies, interesting chords, changing measures and tempos, concealed melancholic mood coupled with irony, mysterious atmosphere of songs, typical for 70s Hammond organ sounds, "active" and often fuzzed bass, good drumming, enjoyable flute and male voices. As if we have "ingredients" which are typical for many examples of early 70s European prog- rock. Moreover, I dare say that style of "To The Highest Bidder" is, to some extent, close to early Camel (self-titled and "Mirage" albums). "Classical" European accords, complex compositions, tranquil - to some extent - manner of singing, important role of Hammond and flutes, similar moods and sometimes even similar tunes. "Intelligent", "dignified" music. But do not believe in these sentences! Music of this album (like any Supersister album) is absolutely original and unique! "To The Highest Bidder" is different from early Camel albums in a lesser degree than from any other music! (I imply, in particular, Canterbury rock or "avant-garde".) It has own specific "features". Four songs of the album can be classified as "mini-prog-epic"/"long ballad"/"prog- epic"/"short ballad". "A Girl Named You" and "Energy (Out Of Future)" are characterized by much more complicated and sophisticated compositional structures, frequently changing rhythms, tempos and measures, and also more eccentric "findings" than two other tracks which are more straightforward, simple and contain marvellous melodies. In any case, the main "merits" of this music are not "prog-load". I think that geniune masterpieces of music (and other kinds of art) can be identified by perception of the fact that this "work" (album, song, composition etc) has created new original unique worlds. It is this feature that one of the main criteria of distinguishing between The Great Bands and mediocre, so-so, "second-rate" ones. In this regard Supersister is The Great Band like King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Yes etc. When I listen "To The Highest Bidder" I get unique perceptions and emotions which cannot be described by words. A lot of contemporary neo-prog and prog-metal bands (which play with more virtuosity and are recorded with more qualitative sound) are not able to have such powerful influence on me. And I do not understand why is Supersister so underestimated. It is said usually that the leading Dutch prog-bands are Focus, Earth and Fire, Ekseption. For me Supersister is the Dutch band number one! Supersister created music which captures my attention perfectly. I am not sure that "To The Highest Bidder", the second album of the band, is the best album. However, it is, possibly, the most typical for this band. If you want to become acquainted with Supersister, I recommend to start with this album which is not worse than, for example, "Nursery Cryme" by Genesis, "Islands" by King Crimson, or "The Yes Album" by Yes. The first album ("Present from Nancy") is more aggressive and psychedelic, and last albums are closer to "avant-garde". Finally, I would like to say that Supersister played music in the times when Progressive Rock was not divided into symphonic prog, avantprog, psychedelic rock etc. I think that such division is not good thing. When some band is locked in some narrow style it loses its creative force. The crisis of the modern prog-rock is the indisputable proof of this "conception". Music of Supersister included elements of other styles but ir was coherent like music of the other great bands of 70s.
felonafan | 5/5 |

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