SUPPER'S READY

I didn't know this band. I must confess that I bought "Listen to the Pictures" without seeing it first, only following a friend's recommendation (he was thrilled with it). He sent me two tracks in MP3 (128 bits), "Indochine" and "Ordinary Man". I didn't hesitate after listening these two songs (in fact, the first one is instrumental) and bought it. When I received the CD and listened to it, I was amazed. During two weeks it was the only CD I spinned at home, in the car stereo, in the iPod and everywhere. And now, at least, I listened to it once a month. I have read the previous reviews. I haven't listened Twin Age, but Supper's Ready sound (a stunningly CLEAN sound) is reminiscent of Pink Floyd, Marillion (the Hogarth time) and some neo-prog bands like IQ. A sound without pomp and circumstance, but transparent and very, very addictive. The sound of the guitars (both lead -¡great!- and rhythm) is incredible, inspired and tasteful, the keyboards background is efficient and very nice, the words are interesting and the horns and reeds bits are delicious, near jazzy sometimes (flute and soprano sax). There are some real masterpieces in this album: "Indochine", "Harlequin", "Open Mind", "Ordinary Man" and the opening theme, "Images of Childhood". For me, 4 stars and a half, so : 5. A masterpiece. By the way, no sonic relation with Genesis, IMHO.

Luxemburg on the map of prog music

Supper's Ready is a band from Luxemburg who releas only one album in 2000 named Listen to the pictures. While the name of the album is quite intristing i can't say the same about the music . Despite their name they have nothing in common with Genesis, they are more close to swedish neo prog band Twin Age. This is neo prog but very mellow and without any trace of beeing original or at least close to originality. So, same solos , same riffs, same druming, to much mid tempo pieces, musicians don't burst, at least from time to time to make a diffrence between one piece ore another, only the voice is better than anything from here. As i said not a bad album , here are some good moments like Ordinary man or Harlequin, but the rest is not really intristing, not even the instrumental pieces are extraordinary, and boring sometimes. In the eand a 2.5 rounded to 3 because of the vocal parts who some time are relly good and emotional, but not an essential album by any means.

A prog band from Luxemburg...nice chance...SUPPER'S READY debut is a rather neo-prog effort,not the best I've ever heard but not the worst either...There are some interesting moments during the listening of the album as well as some boring ones...Despite their name they have few elements in common with GENESIS and I disagree that they sound like TWIN AGE,as the later band has a more ''difficult'' and symphonic sound...I could describe them as a modern version of CAMEL,that can be translated as a modern accesible melodic sound with digital keyboards and a few flute and sax parts...The closest band to them that I can think of is a less electronic version of THE FOUNDATION,although I consider the swedish band as very original sounding one...Highlight of the album the fully instrumental ''Indochine'',great composing,great melodies and some nice sax work,make me think of IQ when I listen to it...Minus of the album the shorter tracks,not prog at all and, although they aren't bad at all, I just consider them as fillings to the album...Nice effort by SUPPER'S READY but NO NAME are still the number one prog band coming from Luxemburg...

With a band name like SUPPER'S READY it's hard to not think of GENESIS. And GENESIS is where the music is firmly rooted, except for the vocals. Just add some CAMEL to the formula too, and then you know how this band sounds like. If you have heard the Swedish band TWIN AGE you're even closer.

SUPPER'S READY doesn't really live up to their "fore-fathers" though, even if they have something going. Strong musicianship and good compositions is a good start, but they're lacking originality. We're talking about standard progressive music, no more, no less. The closing 10-minutes instrumental track "Indochine" is a real masterpiece though, and if all the songs where that good, this album would have been one of the best from 2000.

I really like the cover artwork by Johanns The'd. It makes you think of PINK FLOYD and something that could've been done by Hipgnosis in the 70's.

SUPPER'S READY aren't bad at all, and they will surely attract some old GENESIS fans. I just think that they need some time to find their own sound. Listen to the pictures! They have so much more to say!