Pandemonium’s debut single, “Dalí,” released on October 17, 2025, is a dazzling descent into surrealist sound and vision. The alternative hip-hop supergroup, composed of Maffmatix, Claire Ray, and Charlton Banks, takes its cue from the dreamscapes of Salvador Dalí, bringing trippy imagery, razor-sharp lyricism, alongside rich, cinematic production to produce a mind-bending whole. It’s the first glimpse of their upcoming album Back of the Mind, set for release in early 2026. So, like a manifesto, it’s a fusion of thought and rhythm, intellect and imagination, firmly rooted in hip-hop but orbiting far beyond it.
“Dalí” begins with a gentle, soft, glinting, and hypnotic shimmer of piano before the clean and understated beat drops in, guiding the song with confidence. Charlton Banks opens the first verse with articulate precision, his calm but charged British accent slicing through the haze, every word carrying weight. His bars tumble like surrealist brushstrokes, with each one balancing chaos and control. The imagery of centipedes, time machines, and salamanders comes as a lyrical collage of identity, madness, and self-reflection. Then Claire Ray’s voice enters like moonlight through fog, humming softly, almost like a question suspended in the air, “As I hang my hat, which one tells the truth?” Her warm tone wraps around the verses, softening the edges and floating in a haze.
Maffmatix takes over for a verse, shifting the track’s energy into something sly and self-assured. His delivery flips between existential musings and wordplay that hits like jazz improvisation. Meanwhile, the instrumental builds as piano taps trickle like rain, while strings swell behind them, creating a lush, cinematic backdrop.
“Dalí” is something to be experienced, especially through the visuals. Equal parts intellect and groove, it transforms surrealist art into sound, turning the Pandemonium into architects of something thrillingly new that intersects where philosophy, poetry, and hip-hop collide. Check out the music video to see how surreal imagery of the surrealist artist’s paintings comes to life in all its eccentricity. Dali would dig, for sure.
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Review by: Naomi Joan