Pudding en Gisteren in Bloomington, MN

The third
Supersister
album is a big favorite with
prog
fans because it provides a good representation of the group's combination of
Caravan
-inspired jamming and
Zappa-esque
humor.
Pudding and Gisteren
consists of a pair of
pop
songs and pair of lengthy
jams. The songs are instantly appealing: both
"Radio"
and
"Psychopath"
combine witty narratives with jaunty, hook-laden tunes that pack plenty of musical complexity into a compact space. The longer-form jams show great technical prowess and the occasional element of wacky humor (
"Judy Goes on Holiday"
finishes with an unexpected but amusing parody of
doo wop
music), but they lack the cohesiveness and memorable themes that define the best
prog rock
epics. That said, fans of
art rock
are likely to enjoy this album thanks to the group's considerable instrumental chops:
Robert Jan Stips
in particular shines, coaxing a variety of sounds out of his electric piano to fit the shifting styles of the music. Ultimately, the appeal of
will depend on the listener's tolerance for eccentricity and musical self-indulgence, but it will offer plenty of surprises and musical fireworks for the patient
enthusiast. ~ Donald A. Guarisco