INDELIBLY STAMPED

this is the second album of the art rock band Supertramp, their rawest and most rocking album they have released. This album is a rare album in the discog of this rather sophisticated band, which have on the debut and albums that are highly sophisticated albums with lots of subtle details. Indelibly Stamped is probably the least sophisticated Supertramp album i have heard (i have not gone past Brother Were you Bound). It is some traces of subtleties on the album but none the less though on this album it is more focus on the tightness of each song and the force of each track, but the album is much rawer and in your face then the debut-album.

Most of the In-you-face songs are sung by Rick Davies and Dave Winthrop, the subtle songs are the three songs sung by Roger Hodgson. Indelibly Stamped is an album that goes stylistically between two main styles or expressions, also some elements that to me (even as little sophisticated it may sound, can proudly be called art rock, not progressive rock, but art rock, or crossover prog).

Two dominated styles on this album to me is a Supertrampish attempt on glam rock and baroque rock. The glam rock like elements in songs can also be compared to the Roxy Music debut from 72, the rockabilly songs, but with a British feel and an eccentric twist. Rick Davies use some of the same tricks as Bryan Ferry does on the rockabilly songs, he flashes them out, make them look fun, a bit twisted irony, and with a "English" or "British" ness over them. like the Roxy debut song Re-Make, Re-Model, this album starts with a rockabilly song called Your Poppa Don't Mind a rock'n'roll song played in very fast tempo and with small solo parts, and cool instrument twists, some unorthodox elements in an otherwise standard rockabilly tune, only this is written by the band who plays it, so it can also be a pun, an ironic pun on rock'n'roll.

The other style is what i would call baroque rock, or Procol Harum esque rock, semi-symphonic acoustic ballads (Rosy have Everything Planed, Travelled, and Aries) which are three of the sophisticated and acoustic folk ballad songs on the album, sung by Roger and he is backed on Travelled by the co-writer Frank Farrell. One of the best songs on the album is the Rick Davis ballad Time Have Changed who have a very memorable drum performance and tight bass playing with a solid sound. this is also the first Supertram album to feature saxophone as an instrument in the band, it is best heard in the wild and noisy Remember who in its roughness bear similarity's to some of the wilder sections of a Van der Graaf Generator or King Crimson composition (not in complexity but in dissonance). also this album is very eccentric with wide span of expressions and styles are being explored which gives this album a satisfied travel through varied landscapes and emotions, and Supertramp is able to move themselves quite elegantly through all of them, with attitude and artistic minds, they show they are as capable to express themself through a varied field of music which would soundly put them in the ranks of art rock bands.

Some might disagree by calling this album art rock, but I hear art rock and crossover sensibilities in this album and band as I also hear in bands similar to Supertramp, like Roxy Music, 10cc, Procul Harum, and ELO. the varied styles, the eccentric nature of the music and the flexibility and soul shown in all tracks firmly places this in the realm of art rock and are a reason why Supertramp is Crossover prog, I don't think this is a five star album or a masterpiece of progressive rock, but I think this album is a good album in the development of art rock and crossover prog as an institution for bands who both were good musicians but also terrific songwriters, and this album is no slacker in the aspect of songwriting and execution of the music this is in top art rock fashion. This is no Crime of the Century or Breakfast in America or a Quiet moment but it is a loud and visible album that deserves attention. Thanks

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