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Reviews

The Ajjancy — To Be Arranged
(Youtube no#, 2024, DS)

by Jon Davis, Published 2024-10-11

To Be Arranged Cover art

Who out there remembers the 1983 release called “Do It Again Medley with Billie Jean” by Club House? A group of Italian producers basically took the lyrics and vocal melody of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again” and put them over the backing parts of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean.” (Look it up if you’re not familiar with it.) It’s one of the early examples of a mashup, and it is a precursor to The Ajjancy’s stock in trade. In fact, the second track on To Be Arranged (clever title, eh?) puts “Billy Jean” together with “Roundabout” by Yes. Start out with the first verse of “Roundabout” with the bassline of “Billy Jean,” then for the second verse, swap it around. How’s that for an unexpected juxtaposition? It’s hard to imagine how a person who is unfamiliar with both of the source songs would take this — does it work as a song on its own? — but it’s also hard to imagine anyone who doesn’t know those two songs. The other selections on this album perform similar acrobatic stunts: The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” with OMC’s “How Bizarre”; Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4” with Daft Punk’s “Harder Better Faster Stronger” and Kanye West’s “Stronger”; Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” with “Nights in White Satin” by Moody Blues; and so on, including songs by Led Zeppelin, Taylor Swift, King Crimson, Glenn Frey, and Renaissance. The Ajjancy is George Ajjan, aided by co-conspirators Fernando Perdomo (guitar, Mellotron), Matt Lebofsky (piano), Jeremy Nesse (Stick), Terry Branam (drums), and Dan Feiszli (bass) along with various horn and string players. I imagine there will be some listeners who are horrified by the idea of mashing together King Crimson and Taylor Swift, but they need to lighten up. I’ll just say that some of the songs work better than others, and I don’t know what the shelf life is going to be. Is it the kind of thing where you hear it once, chuckle at the audacity and cleverness, not to mention the skill of the arrangements, and then never want to hear it again? Or will it have staying power? I’ve listened to some of the tracks several times now, and they’re still working for me. Everyone needs a smile now and then, and music created with a sly wink is a welcome diversion from the outside world. Due to licensing issues, the album is available for streaming as a playlist on Youtube.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): King Crimson, Yes, Renaissance, The Moody Blues, Procol Harum, The Who, Chicago, Led Zeppelin, Fernando Perdomo, The Ajjancy

More info
http://theajjancy.bandcamp.com/album/to-be-arranged

 

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