SWEET OK SUPERSISTER

This dvd shows one of the unexpected comeback concerts of one of the main Dutch progressive bands from the seventies: Supersister. The band has keyboard-magician Robert Jan Stips, Ron van Eck on Bass, Marco Vrolijk on drums and Sacha van Geest on flutes.

In the early seventies Supersister started with 'Presents from Nancy', a debut that had a lot of influences of the Canterbury-scene. Follow-up To the Highest Bidder can be seen as their swan-song, but Pudding and Gisteren also has an amazing likable sound. Supersister plays only tracks of these first three albums.

The key-sounds and structures of the Soft Machine are very recognizable, but Supersister ain't no spin off act. They re-invented the jazz-rock genre in their own way with trippy and repetitive up-tempo instrumental parts with jazzy flutes as a solo instrument. There are no guitars. The vocals had always been a bit funny because of Stip's un-trained yet catchy and happy voice. It gave them this crazy and free sound, which became very acceptable because of the amazing musicianship and the bands abnormal rhythmical possibilities. The compositions of Stips sound Canterbury-like, but there's also a bit of Frank Zappa and some quirkiness of Gentle Giant. The band sounds heavier then most groups of the Canterbury genre.

The comeback of Supersister is one of the best of the Dutch prog history. The band succeeded in recreating their classic distorted organ sound and their heavy rhythmical section. The vocals of Stips sound as if nothing has changed in thirty years. The stage-performance is good, the extremely sophisticated musicianship and happy vocals of Stips work very well. However, Stips should not have talked between the songs. His stories sound boring and he looks very shy. The band plays very tight and professional, but I must say the band slightly looses it's perfect grip after the Pudding en gisteren part. The vocals are often good, but on some multi-vocal moments they are horrible. Luckily these moments are extremely rare and it proves the band didn't changed anything in the studio, which is honorable.

The track-listing of this dvd is amazing. Not one important Supersister song is missing. Even the 20-minute Pudding en gisteren epic is played! Other highlights are Present from Nancy, Memories ar new, Mexico, A girl named you, Judy goes on holiday and Wow. There are also some poppy songs, but they are very funny!

Conclusion. An amazing document that should get attention from all Supersister fans. This dvd will be a very good addition to every-one interested in Canterbury music, trippy Jazz-rock, Dutch prog and rhythmical sophisticated progressive rock. Four stars!