PRESENT FROM NANCY

A more than competent mingling of influences ranging from late-period Mothers of Invention to Volume Two era Soft Machine, with a big hit of Caravan mellowness here and there, Supersister's first album is not an absolute masterpiece, but it's more than deserving to sit in the company of its influences. No mere imitators, the band prove willing to experiment a little and surprise the listener (such as when they throw in a super-brief partial cover of the Byrds' Eight Miles High at one point), and match their heroes in technical expertise to boot; Stips and Vroljik on vibes and percussion in particular are a joy to hear. Four stars.