There’s always that one album each year that comes along and declutters my musical brain. With so much progressive this and avant-garde that, sometimes an album that seamlessly combines genres and has a beating, authentic heart is what I really need. The new Chimpan A album is that for me this year. It’s called Music Is Art, Vol. 1 and releases on August 29th.
Chimpan A is a project from Robert Reed (Magenta) on keys, bass, and guitars, and Steve Balsamo (Jesus Christ Superstar) on vocals. They bring with them a small host of performers: Nigel Hopkins on orchestration; Kirstie Roberts, Christina Booth, and Angharad Brinn on vocals; Ged Lynch on drums; Guy Pratt and Neil Fairclough on bass; Neil Taylor and Francis Dunnery on guitar; and Tony Dallas and Richard Mylan on spoken word.
I was introduced to the project through 2020’s The Empathy Machine, a darling and diverse album that felt equal parts cool and classy. This album is different, though not in so many words. This one is far more human, more emotional, more heart-clutching. The band offers a mix of progressive rock with pop, funk, blues, electronic, and soft rock. There are several passages of extremely effective spoken word, some of it rather devastating, and so the album is a menagerie of styles, voices, and emotions.
I want to emphasize the importance of the voices and lyrics on this record. This isn’t just a cheesy mix of singers like with some rock operas. No, each voice is distinct and has a purpose, from Kirstie’s powerful high octave to Christina’s mousier, more reserved style. They contrast with Steve’s smooth flow and Angharad Brinn’s picturesque innocence.
The spoken word, too, has contrasts. Tony’s matter-of-fact style is something I could listen to for hours; he has poetic flow that hits every note just right. Then Richard’s performance is more “street”, if you will, more desperately human and hopeful. And they both play into the lyrics: stories of love and loss, of slavery to drugs and hope for the future, of taking a stand against the authoritarian powers that be. It’s a broad spectrum of feelings, and yet feels so close, so potent.
The album has nine tracks, though there is a second disc of covers. I’m focusing on the album proper. Music Is Art, Vol.1 has some truly amazing songs on it. I tend to think tracks 1-3 and 7-9 are the high points. Not to say the album drags in the middle, but the beginning and end are the parts that really hit me. For the first part, we get the single “Wolves”, a groovy and gravy-smooth piece that sets the stage. The orchestral “I Will Wait For You” comes next, and it is devastating emotionally, with plenty of quivering feelings and powerful spoken word. “Saviour” follows with a shorter, spunkier, supremely catchy piece that is colorful and rich.
The middle of the album gives us “Karl’s Song”, which feels like an extension of “I Will Wait for You”, beautifully wrought. “Skeletons” sounds like a 90’s soft rock song with all the hovering emotions and gentle strings. This part of the album ends with the amazing “Anybody Out There” with its electronic character, terrific spoken word, and funky flourishes. I love it.
The last three tracks together are my favorites, I think. I’m not sure if they are one story together or not, but they feel that way. “The Keeper” is a cautious, reserved piece with haunting, emotional performances. I find it strangely catchy for that style, and Richard’s spoken word spree is overwhelming. Then the album gifts us “Invisible People”, a powerful and yet incredibly addictive track with terrific spoken word, electronic color, and a chorus that might be one of my favorites of the year. The album closes with “Dreaming Will Kill Us Dead”. I love how it transitions from the previous song with careful orchestration, floating us along like a river. This piece hits hard with its authenticity and both despair and hope. It feels like irony that while dreams give us purpose, they will also “kill us dead”. It’s a beautiful ending and one that will leave you introspective.
Chimpan A has released some incredibly underrated works, but I think this is their best. It has such fervor within its vocals, but funk and melody in its musical character. It is unendingly interesting, and you will definitely want to sing along with it. This is the kind of album that defragments your brain and helps you ponder your life. I hope people will give it a try.
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Find Chimpan A online:
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The PROG Mind 
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