Sweet Okay Supersister - 1974 - Spiral Staircase

Sweet Okay Supersister

1974

Spiral Staircase

01. Retroschizive (Introduction schizo) (2:21)
02. Jelly bean hop (1:36)
03. Dangling dingdongs (6:54)
04. Sylvers song (Groan, stamp, shock, hoot) (3:09)
05. Cookies, teacups, buttercups (4:01)
06. Gi, ga, go (Gollumble jafers) (4:01)
07. It had to be (3:46)
08. Nosy parkers (4:26)
09. We steel so frange (Epilogue) (2:54)

Robert Jan Stips / keyboards, lead vocals, vibes
Ron van Eck / bass guitar
Sacha van Geest / flutes, vocals

Guests :
Mien van den Heuvel / mandolin
Hans Alegres / steeldrum
Inge van Iersel / backing vocals
Jose van Iersel / backing vocals
Jan Hollestelle / bass
Bertus Borgers / sax
Dick De Jong / bagpipes
Louis Debij / drums

Mr. De Wolf / horns

My favorite album by the band, even though it sounds like no other Supersister album. Actually it doesn't sound like anyone else's album!

A musical fairy tale for disturbed but imaginative children is one description I find most apt for this LP. Chock full of musical mischief, played by musicians with great chops, Spiral Staircase is one of those rare albums that consistently puts a smile on my face after hearing it. Many beautiful, serene moments buttress the wacky stuff, and there are a handful of hot little jams by the band in between that really cook! Keyboard man Robert Jan Stips particularly shines.

The varispeed chipmunk vocals that dot the landscape here and there do tend to rub some folks the wrong way - most of the male and female vocal is normal speed, I might add. But taken in context, this just adds to the fun and daring musical stew these guys have cooked up. Track-by-track rundowns as well as the story of the album (i.e. it's not really a Supersister album per se, though the personnel varies little from other 'Sister elpees) are told by other reviewers so I won't mine that same territory. And I should point out that Supersister's first three albums (Nancy, Bidder & Pudding) are all exquisite and far more representative of the Supersister sound than Spiral Staircase is. But the Staircase album goes to places that very few have ever dared, especially with such fascinating results. Not only one of a kind but a complete and utter classic.

While many assume this is the final SUPERSISTER album it was actually released under the name SWEET OKAY SUPERSISTER and is really a Sacha Van Geest solo album with SUPERSISTER members. So I guess it's close enough to be considered part of their catalogue ? Well on the official SUPERSISTER web-site you won't find this album but personally I don't have a problem with this being listed under SUPERSISTER.

After the lack of success with their previous album "Iskander" Charlie Mariano left, eventually going back to Germany where he would play with Eberhard Weber. It is a shame that "Iskander" didn't do better because it was so good. The band asked Elton Dean to take Charlie's place and Elton accepted only to see the band eventually implode. On the official SUPERSISTER web-site Elton Dean is still listed as a former member. Man i'd loved to have heard an album with him on board in the same style as "Iskander". But again I have to say that Charlie was fantastic on "Iskander". Anyway "Spiral Staircase" sees the band continuing where "Pudding En Gisteren" left off but even more sillier. In fact Frank Zappa and GONG are good examples of what we get here. Hey with Sacha back you know that humour would be back too.

"Retroschizve" opens with the sound of traffic before the piano and more takes over. Spoken words from Sacha after a minute with pleasing music. Some chipmunk vocals join in too. Get used to it (haha). It blends into "Jelly Bean Hop" where it turns fuller right away. Great sound. It settles with spoken words. The tempo keeps changing and we get more chipmunk vocals. "Dangling Dingdongs" is such a good song. Sparse intricate sounds before it picks up with bass 1 1/2 minutes in. Drums join in too. Killer stuff, especially the drumming. Vocal melodies help out. Samples late of horses walking and whistling. Then we hear someone walking away before it ends with chaotic sounds and breaking glass. "Sylver Song ( Graon, Stamp, Shock, Hoot)" opens with whispered words then some silly singing in the GONG style. Music before 2 minutes as it kicks in to a full sound. Chunky bass too. Back to silliness after 2 1/2 minutes to end it.

"Cookies, Teacups, Buttercups" opens with mandolin and water sounds. Bag pipes eventually lead with marching styled drums and vocals. Catchy. "Gi, Ga, Go (Gollumble Jafers)" opens with piano and multi-vocals. An Island vibe comes in and a singer who sounds like Kevin Ayers. Horns replace the vocals but not for long. Chipmunk vocals and laughter end it. Too funny. "It Had To Be" is piano and reserved vocals. Backing vocals and vibes too. "Nosey Parkers" is piano, drums and vocals with silly background vocals. I like the drumming and sound 1 1/2 minutes in with those GONG-like vocal expressions. "We Steel So Frange (Eplogue)" is a catchy mid-paced tune with vocals. We do get an instrumental break later.

A must for fans of GONG and Zappa.