Present from Nancy by Supersister (album) (1970)
Of Supersister, pioneers of Dutch progressive rock originally from The Hague, I have already parried on the occasion of the review of their masterpiece "To the Highest Bidder".
Founded in 1965 as the "Sweet Okay Supersister", the band signed with Polydor Records in 1970 after the success of the single "She Was Naked".
Despite having Dutch roots, the sound of the album is strongly influenced by the English Canterbury scene, in particular Soft Machine and Caravan. There are also clear references to the absurdism of Frank Zappa and his Mothers of Invention.
A peculiar feature of the album is the almost total absence of the electric guitar (which appears only as a guest on a single track), in favor of virtuosity of keyboards (fuzz organ), flute and a preponderant distorted bass.
The Supersister line-up that recorded Present from Nancy is considered their classic line-up. It remained unchanged until 1973, when Van Geest and Vrolijk left the group. This line-up included Robert Jan Stips on keyboards (organ and piano) and vocals, Sacha van Geest on flute and vocals, Ron van Eck on electric bass, and Marco Vrolijk on drums and percussion. The record's distinctive jazz-prog style is largely due to Van Geest's flute. Van Eck was known for his use of effects and distortions that filled the space left by the guitar.
The album opens with the suite "Present From Nancy" and its "Introduction", an instrumental jazz-rock piece where flute and piano chase each other in a splendid interaction, accompanied by a pushing drums. "Present From Nancy" continues in the wake of the previous song, maintaining a pressing rhythm and a great use of electric keyboards, creating a sunny atmosphere full of virtuosity.
This is followed by the "Memories Are New (Boomchick)" Suite, which immediately captures you with its keyboard melodies and vocals that are a bit reminiscent of Richard Sinclair from Caravan. Then surprisingly there is a beautiful dissonant middle section that breaks the mold. Later, comes "11/8", a super frenetic piece built on odd time signatures, which shows all the influence of Soft Machine and Robert Fripp in the rhythmic intertwining. Finally, to close this part, there is "Dreaming Wheelwhile", a song with a dreamy atmosphere, where the flute guides the bass and cymbals in a soft and relaxing environment.
The B-side opens with "Corporation Combo Boys", a short ironic interlude reminiscent of Gentle Giant, both for the vocal harmonies and for the lyrics, and which openly mentions their influences. This is followed by the "Metamorphosis" suite, which begins with "Mexico". Here we find dark and technical riffs that alternate with more relaxed moments. "Metamorphosis" is one of the most experimental tracks, with a pressing rhythm and an aggressive sound of drums and fuzz organ. Then comes "Eight Miles High", a cover of the Byrds, but be careful, it's only a 25-second fragment, a real "joke" to Golden Earring, who at the time played the song in very long versions. Finally, "Dona Nobis Pacem", the longest song on the album, with over 8 minutes of duration. It opens with solemn, almost medieval organ harmonies, and then unexpectedly turns into a circus motif, creating an unsettling and psychedelic effect.
This album is now rightly considered a true jewel of European prog, because it manages to mix jazz, rock and humor (a bit crazy to be honest) in a truly unique way. A must-have!
My Version
Label: Music On Vinyl – MOVLP2562, Polydor – MOVLP2562, Universal Music – MOVLP2562
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Reissue, Stereo, 180 Grams, Crystal Clear
Country: Europe
Release date: Mar 7, 2025
Tracklist
Present from Nancy:
1. Introduction (2:57)
2. Present from Nancy (5:14)
- Memories Are New (Boomchick) :
3. Memories Are New (3:47)
4. 11/8 (3:16)
5. Dreaming Wheelwhile (2:52)
6. Corporation Combo Boys (1:21)
- Metamorphosis:
7. Mexico (4:21)
8. Metamorphosis (3:27)
9. Eight Miles High (0:22)
10. Dona Nobis Pacem (8:35)
Duration 36:12
LineUp
- Robert Jan Stips - lead vocals, keyboards, vibes
- Sacha van Geest - flutes, vocals
- Ron van Eck - bass, fuzz bass
- Marco Vrolijk - drums and percussion, vocals
Featuring:
- Gerhard Smid - guitar, vocals (6)
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists"
