Pama International - Highrise Album Review

Well I have to admit I was rather dreading having to review this LP as I'm not a big fan of "riddim" albums as apart from changing the vocalist it all well....sounds the same. So as luck would have it when I got to hear this it was nice to find out it is in fact a two riddim LP! Ok enough of the silliness and down to business after all this LP is released in aid of a good cause, and what you want to know is if I part with my money will I get something good back, and not just a load of old rubbish that has been hastily put together. Well rest at ease my good friends this is worth every penny.
First off I love the way this whole package has been put together and it is obvious that it is something that all involved have thought carefully about, from the (if you get the CD) cardboard vinyl style LP cover, with inlay sleeve and the track listing as an A and B side. For that is basically how it runs. The 'Highrise' riddim is the A side and each track runs into the next so it feels almost like an extended mix. It starts off with Pama's own Love Dub Band LP version, before seamlessly moving into Dennis Alcapone's DJ style version, and then morphs into Billy Bragg! Now how many times have you seen Dennis followed by Billy? One thing is for sure though no one can put everyday observations into a song better than Mr Bragg, and the line "Just because the system has failed you don't fail yourself" kind of says it all for me as there is no excuse for taking what you may perceive as a dead end situation and using it as an excuse to wastefully take another persons life.
After the first four (the other being a nice little Wrongtom dub) versions of Highrise and just as you're starting to feel you've heard enough along come Mungo's Hi Fi to turn the riddim into something completely different as the riddim becomes a deep, dark, urban sounding bass heavy dubstep, to round things off nicely.
The next riddim, or B side if you prefer, is 'No More Guns', which is my favourite of the two and has a more up beat tempo and funky reggae vibe and is going to be a showstopper live. Finny's sweet soprano vocals are off set by Dennis Alcapone's ruff and tuff chat on the riddim title track, followed by a G.Corp dub version with the beautiful sound of the Melodica drifting over the top. Then there its 'Do They Ever Wonder', same riddim just a name change, which features the vocal talents of rising Southeast London talent Jimmy Screech as he showcases his reggae-rap style (Oh keep a look out for his The Remedy LP which is due for release later this year).
I think this is great little LP with enough variation on both riddims to stop you from getting bored, so dig into your pockets not only to help give money to a worthy cause, but also to get yourself a bit of fine listening pleasure.

"NO MORE GUNS, NO MORE KNIVES"