SUPERSISTER — Spiral Staircase (review)

SUPERSISTER — Spiral Staircase album cover Album · 1974 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
Sean Trane
The group's final album is a very weird one, although somehow it's still not weird enough to not be a Supersister album. Indeed the group always tried to add humour to the music, often doing so successfully, but here it certainly feels like they're aiming at Zappa, but are unable to reach him. Despite its drawn Spiral Staircase to heaven on the cover, this album is yet a second proof after Iskander that the group was simply not in their better form of late. RJ Stips was already inside Golden Earring, although his passage in that band would be largely un-productive.

A car beeping and speeding cars passing you by is the signal that you've reached the limits of Zanyland, and you've passed the border once the piano kicks in. Jelly Bean Hop is more of the same madness, but the 7-mins Dangling Ding Dongs, even though it starts on a quiet and normal piano-led first part, brings back a sort of normality to the album, despite its extremely complex rhythm, disappearing in a heavy-sounding footstep. These footsteps lead directly into Sylvers Song is probably THE weirdest track written in The Netherlands, sounding like a cross of Radio Gnome Invisible-era Gong meeting Zappa on an improbable drug. Impossible to describe this track, it musty be heard to be believed. Cookies, Teacups and Buttercups is a bagpipe war-march and furthers the madness of the album. GiGaGo is way to so very much too close to calypso music (I hate this kind of Latino music), despite the group giving it a Zappa edge, I find it cringing and overstaying its welcome by a good 4 minutes ;o)) . One would have to wonder whether Supersister tried their hands at a sort of Rock In Opposition (I'm thinking of Samla mixed with Etronfou) or whether too much substances got into their nostrils, but It Had To Be is again bizarre, almost grotesque. The closing Nosy Parkers and Steel So Frange (sic) are more of the same madness?..

Despite my not liking this album, I must recognize that it is indeed original (but fitting more a music revue or Broadway show), flawlessly played and very well produced. In some ways, I understand the fans that would say this is the group's best album, because it is impressive., but it is definitely not my cup of tea but excellent production job. It's rather hard for me to tell you to go for this album, especially given that it's the only Supersister album so far not having received a remastering by the Esoteric record label.

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