The lovingly named Arturo Bastard (http://www.arturobastard.com) was someone I initially dismissed as a novelty act. Certainly the hilariously colourful appellation and self-proclaimed "Peacock of Rock" certainly raised eyebrows. Is this guy for real? Probably not as the sound of this CD seems to have sprung forth from a true-blue appreciation of glam theatrics which, to my knowledge, hadn't hatched until the early '70s, long after this LP's reported 1969 release date.
But I'm not to knock anybody for a clever marketing gimmick, and certainly rock and roll deserves some flash and glitter at the moment. If you look upon "The Name Is Bastard" (not much subtletly here, ain't there?) as a flashback to three decades of English pop - the '60s, the '70s, and the '80s - you will have a grand time. The '60s are perhaps best exemplified by "Jet Setter" with its Byrdsy or Beatles-esque ringing guitars. Outside of that, I find the hard-rocking title cut and "Off the Ground" to be squarely in the glam-rock stylings made fashionable by David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust identity (perhaps the biggest inspiration here), early Roxy Music, Gary Glitter, and T. Rex.
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Bastard's big, flamboyant voice is something you just don't hear any more on the radio; it booms from the speakers as much as those fat riffs do. On "The Operation," Bastard recalls Meat Loaf at his most operatic. You will see no complaints from me towards rock this toe-tapping and hip-swinging. Dig it, baby.
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