Weddings are
Expensive so We Made an Album
By
Pandamonium & Friends
Weddings are Expensive So We Made an Album (WAESWMAA) is the
latest release by UK DJ/Producer and occasional Emcee Pandamonium. Released via
Kamikaze Airlines Records, this was made to celebrate and raise a few funds for his upcoming wedding,
in July this year, to Stacey.
The album is entirely produced, scratched, mixed, and
mastered by the man himself and features a host of top draw emcees from these
shores and across the pond. There is also an appearance from a little-known
alter ego of Pandamonium, who appears as the MC on the night.
So, without further ado, let me transport you on a little
journey into the album. It’s not your average album review so, feel free to
expect the unexpected…
So, picture the scene, our man Pandamonium is deeply
involved in plans for his upcoming wedding. Part of this is raising so much
needing funds in these days of rising costs. One night, as he lays in bed,
about to drift off to sleep, his mind is on how his music can help him raise
funds. He then falls into a deep slumber and begins to dream…
A laid-back boombap sound of piano, bass and drums heralds a
dream like no other. There is a stage here and lots of guest sat around at
tables. Heads are nodding to the jazzy piano vibe as Pandamonium’s American
alter ego steps on stage to great everyone and to give them a Welcome To The
Show, and that show is the future wedding reception for Daniel and Stacey.
The guests have their appetites wetted as a stunning list of guest performers
is noted and, as the guests clap their approval, Pandamonium takes up his place
behind the turntables and Kryptik (from Paisley, Scotland) steps on stage ready
to Step Up and take the mike. The beat kicks hard and is heavy on the
string sound and there is no pussy footing around here as it’s all about
getting ya heads nodding. Kryptik speaks, on his no nonsense style, on the ups
and downs of life the last couple of years and his desire to step up and keep
moving forward, no matter what. This is a message to everyone of us, because
every time we step up in the face of adversity, it’s a defining moment that
shows the true strength of our character. Next to take to the stage alongside
Pandamonium is Killa Complex from Long Beach California. The vibe is an upbeat
sound of guitars, drums, hand claps and xylophone notes to keep the crowd moving.
Killa Complex asks everyone to Never Judge a Man as he explains that you
can never judge anyone you meet. Someone’s appearance, how much money they have
and so on is never a true reflection of that persons back story and what they
have lived through. Whatever your first impressions of a person are, get to
know the real person behind the mask before you speak on how they may or may
not be. The message might be deep here but, as a guest, you will meet many
people on a wedding day, a lot you will not know so, the message is poignant.
The sound now morphs into a more soulful mix of drums and piano. Ontario emcee
Es takes to the stage delivering vocals for the happy couple and everyone as he
asks How Long is long enough? When two people make a commitment to each
other, for love, they wish to be together forever but how long is forever? Is
forever enough? Can that commitment, that love for each other extend beyond the
physical timescale we call forever…
As the guest ponder over the meaning of forever and Love, Pandamonium’s
alter ego takes to the stage to entertain us for a short interval. A groovy
organ sound floats into the awareness of the guests as they are informed that
Long Beach Emcee Dizzy Dustin is setting up for his performance…
With the legendary figure of Dizzy Dustin ready to go the
air becomes electric as the guest ready themselves for the Sink or Swim
Remix. The track was originally released by Diz in the run up to the
release of the Where Do I Go From Here album, Pandamonium’s remix is a pounding
beat and synth sounds that immediately has everyone out of their seats,
bouncing to the groove. Dizzy Dustin treats everyone to some slick wordplay
that is all about integrity. In life you have to do what you gotta do on lifes
journey but, in all that you do it’s about being upfront and speaking your
truth and not being fake or dishonest. With the crowd suitably buzzing, long
time Pandamonium collaborator One OZ (Edinburgh, Scotland) steps up to the Mic.
Panda and OZ have this great chemistry in everything they do so when the
guitars and heavy drum beat drops, you know you’re in for a treat. In his
typically unapologetic rhyme style, One OZ spits a gritty and witty story that
is all about upping your game. If you wanna step up and stand shoulder to
shoulder with others in the game, you have to Get Ya Weight Up and show
em what you got, prove you deserve your place. As the night draws to a close,
it is the turn of Sir Burbia (London, England) to bring a bit of fun to round
off the evening. The musical backdrop is a funky sound of guitar, keys, and
drums. Sir Burbia drops some slick, ‘just for fun’ lyrics, that echo the US TV
Show Keenan & Kel, as he explains his love for a certain beverage with, I
Do (Love Orange Soda). This one will have everyone grinning ear to ear, and
you can’t round off a party in a better way…
A horn heavy jazz Funk sound hits as Panda’s alter ego takes
to the stage one last time to Wrap Up things. He gives everyone a little
more information as the guests prepare to leave.
However, not everyone is ready to go just yet and the cry
rings out for One More (Encore) and so just to send all the guests away
in style, that’s just what Pandamonium gives them. An instrumental style joint
in a boombap style that is piano heavy and full of cut up samples to get
everyone nodding their head one last time. Then Panda switches it up one last
time and changes from piano heavy to a guitar heavy vibe midway through. This
all serves to allow the guest to leave on a proper high, this in turn allows
Pandamonium to return to being Daniel and for him and Stacey to finally settle
into married life, just as Pandamonium awakes from the dream that has just
given him the perfect theme for an album…
Did it really happen that way? I dunno but, it sounds good
right!
Overall, you can’t say much more about this album than it is
a solid production album that is undoubtedly a highly enjoyable and has been
produced by someone who has a love of good Hip Hop music and who has the
respect of his peers enough to feature such a talented line-up of guest emcees.
You can really get into the whole vibe of the album feeling
like a wedding reception that most Hip Hop lovers would want to be invited to. Pandamonium’s
production is as faultless as always and puts his years of expertise and
experience to good use creating an album that flows so well from top to bottom,
keeping you entertained all the way. The guest artists he has brought on-board
for this all give those ‘top of their game’ performances, just what you’d want
at a wedding reception.
There is definitely a family affair vibe about this project
to as the family have been involved in producing a very limited number, twenty
actually, of CDs to help raise some funds for the actual wedding in July 2022.
The artwork is all custom hand produced, numbered, and signed. So, if you want
one of these then I would advise you move quickly as they won’t be around long.
There is not much left for me to say except a huge thank you
to Pandamonium for sending this over and sending him and Stacey best wishes for
the up coming wedding, See Ya There…
Time for me to boogie on outta here,
Steve
LINKS
Get the digital version of the album in Original, Clean or Instrumental via Bandcamp:
https://djpandamonium.bandcamp.com/
Grab on of the limited edition (each one is unique) CD copies by contacting Pandamonium on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/djpandamoniumuk
VIDEOS
How Long (ft Es) - WAESWMAA CDs Out Now
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