The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
Album: Zim Zam Zim
Label: Bronzerat
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.arthur-brown.com

At the age of seventy two you might think that the flames from the artist known as the God of Hell Fire might be burning a little weaker by now. His first album in ten years in what is billed as a "genre spanning, time travelling, world bending, heavy grooving and massively eclectic" set of songs, arising from a collaboration with producers and musicians Sam Walker and Jim Mortimore, it's hard to disagree and to be honest, pretty much what you'd expect from someone who seems, to coin a phrase, still crazy after all these years.

Arthur's website contains a lengthy explanation of Zim Zam Zim - a somewhat challenging notion from one with such an ordinary name as Arthur Brown. Having read it several times, particularly the opening section which revolves around the mysterious Zim Zam Zim entering the unknowableness, I think I have some understanding of how that must feel. They say ignorance is bliss, a view to which I'm a new convert and being still none the wiser had to resort to simply submitting to own lack of comprehension and simply play the record. It may be that there are elements of an autobiographical nature in the concept - flitting between worlds, universes, lives and alternative realities. Who knows?

Drawn into the extraordinary world of Zim Zam Zim, the hypnotic chant of the title track is an overture or a calling to arms to the vision coming from the formless depths of the mysterious Mr (or Mrs) ZZZ, it's straight into a song which deals with child abuse - not afraid to take on and challenge taboo subjects, yet explained through a simple need to be loved ("We want to love, we want to be loved.") It is and always has been this conviction and confidence to plough his own furrow and remain true to his art and his heart that separates Arthur Brown from the pack.

The sparseness of 'Jungle Fever' with its raw howls and exhortations sees Arthur exploring the full range of his voice pushing into places where only the brave would venture while at the same time almost single handedly inventing a new form of blues. A delivery which is primitive and primeval to the extent that it almost sounds like he's strapped a few rubber bands round a shoe box to create a unturned accompaniment. It's hard to call melodic but in a strange way quite compelling and mesmerising. There's a similar hypnotic thud and tin can percussion feel to 'Junkyard King' contrasting back to back with the gentle and reflective 'Light Your Light' and then into 'Touched By All' and suddenly the mood has changed with a spoken word vocal exhorting the listener to consider the human existence and attitudes to the planet; what he calls "touched by all, owned by none"

By the time the album ends with what seems like an improvised set of sounds with whatever the musicians could lay their hands on, alongside another of Arthur's discourses making up the formless depths, he's confirmed that as a genuinely unique and innovative rock star he still stands head and shoulders above his peers. What we have with Zim Zam Zim, is an album which at times sits comfortably in the contemporary setting yet also has enough challenge to exist on a different plane far beyond the mainstream and well into the astral sphere. To be honest, I'm still somewhat in the dark as to who or what Zim Zam Zim is or who he/she/it represents, suffice to say that what the world needs now is now is not just love sweet love, but more people like Arthur Brown.

Mike Ainscoe