PRESENT FROM NANCY

Admittedly I came across this wonderful Dutch band quite late in my life and I'm really wondering why I never heard their name in the old days. I purchased as well their Supersisterious-DVD just recently and I found the live performance there absolutely stunning. This one here had been their very first album and offered rather swinging jazz rock played on flute, bass, organ and drums with occasional vocals by Robert Jan Stips. Guitar is almost absent (apart from a short appearance in the funny "Coorporating Comboboys" but as well not really missing. Bass and organ play is quite reminiscent of Hopper und Ratledge from Soft Machine wheras Stips' vocals are bringing rather Richard Sinclair of Caravan into one's mind. But despite all comparisons due to Geest's brilliant flute play and some piano being used every now and then Supersister had primarily their very own sound. In some way this band created a perfect cross between the harmony of symphonic Prog and the disposition for experimentation and flamboyance of Canterbury sound. Everything is there on this excellent and versatile album: sections with distorted organ and fuzzed bass ("Memories Are New", "Metamorphosis"), swinging jazzy moments with cheerful flute play ("Present from Nancy", "Memories Are New") and relaxed soaring parts with elegiac flute, soft soundscapes by keyboard and occasional vibraphone ("Dreaming Wheelwhile", "Dona Nobis Pacem"). This had been a very well-done debut by this usually overlooked band and I think any fan of Canterbury style should own it, especially since it's available as 2 on 1 CD re-issue together with their second one for good value-for-money ratio. I wouldn't hesitate to rate it with 4 stars!