INDELIBLY STAMPED

Just like Supertramp's first album, Indelibly Stamped is not really much like any other album, it sounds like a band trying to find their way, and I guess that's what it is, with quite dramatic swings in style. The initial Roger Hodgson dominated sound is now being challenged by Rick Davies, who is bringing in Rock & Roll, R&B, and Heavy Rock with his deep, bluesy voice alongside Roger's plaintive meditations. Indelibly Stamped points the way to the future, and in many ways has a much more intimate, personal feel that the later megaproductions. Coming from the early 70's, there are no gimmicks, it's just a real band playing real music. Due to its lack of commercial success the original band went its own way after this, however, as we later saw, from the ashes of adversity a mighty sonic force arose with 'Crime of the Century'. The key thing to remember here is that you're listening to a young band brimming with ideas and potential to allow bigger and better things to follow. This is still a nice, very listenable album. Unusual? Definitely! With its good variety of ideas, you either have rhythms that gets you moving or soft sing-along ballads. Check out Hodgson's "Rosie Had Everything Planned" and "Travelled", Davies' "Forever", "Friend In Need" and the superb finale "Aries", a long, jazzy groove of the type that would not return until Hodgson had left the band..and yet, he sings it, so I guess he wrote it. Nice musicianship here from accordian touches, sax and flute.Not an essential album but it is surely a must for fans of Supertramp. 3 solid stars