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.

Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Jason Stein, Marilyn Crispell, Damon Smith, Adam Shead : Spi​-​raling Horn Avant-Garde Jazz
JASON STEIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Utopia Jazz Related Improv/Composition
OLIVER LUTZ
Buy this album from MMA partners
Charlie Pyne Quartet : Nature Is A Mother Vocal Jazz
CHARLIE PYNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Norma Winstone & Kit Downes : Outpost of Dreams Vocal Jazz
NORMA WINSTONE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Djabe & Steve Hackett : When the Sound Turns Sweet Fusion
DJABE
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FULL ALBUM - Oliver Lutz - Utopia w/ Leif Berger, Constantin Krahmer
OLIVER LUTZ
js· 70 minutes ago
Lift
DAVE WILSON (US/NZ)
js· 2 days ago
Nature is a Mother
CHARLIE PYNE
js· 2 days ago
Marta Warelis solo @ FourOneOne 5-11-23
MARTA WARELIS
js· 2 days ago
The Chapparrals - Shake Your Head (US, 1978) [Full LP] {Funk, Disco, Soul} ??ULTRA RARE KILLER LP??
THE CHAPPARRALS
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed