Green Pajamas - Northern Gothic

  by Geraint Jones

published: 25 / 3 / 2003

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Few bands of such long-standing can genuinely maintain such flair for inventiveness as the Green Pajamas. Almost 19 years down the line, the band’s latest opus ‘Northern Gothic’ – 14 songs inspired by what principal member Jeff Kelly describes as their desire to evoke the geography of the USA’s Pacific Northwest - doesn’t demonstrate any sign of diminishing musical ambition by the band. Kelly’s efforts, via his songs, to convey the way the climate and geography of the region combine, “a very gothic sort of scene’ is how he describes the area, are very effective. His songs are richly detailed and highly evocative. Whilst half the album doesn’t appear to have had any additional input other than from Jeff Kelly himself, the contributions of his cohorts shouldn’t be disregarded, especially those of Eric Lichter, who sings lead of two of his own songs, and Laura Weller, the most recent addition to the band, who’s haunting vocals both on her own ‘Christine Crystalline’ and in conjunction with Kelly on several others adds a very appealing dimension to the Green Pajamas constantly evolving sound. Recorded at Kelly’s home this is an accomplished album that despite it’s probably lo-fi costs sounds anything but. Baroque pop, psychedelia and subtle shades of more roots inflected Americana influences - mandolin and accordion for example are integrated into the layered, fascinating arrangements that are never over burdened by their ambition. Although I have some of the bands previous work on this evidence I think I ought to be investigating much more of it. For the uninitiated I’d suggest ‘Northern Gothic’ would be a fine place to begin your acquaintance with the band.

Track Listing:-

1 In The Darkness
2 End of Summer
3 In The Burning Moonlight
4 Wild Wild Reefs
5 Bitter Moon
6 Christine Crystalline
7 First Love
8 The Cruel Night
9 Mary Ryans Hair
10 Coyotes and Comets
11 Blue Halloween Moon
12 Fist Snow
13 Lost Girls Song
14 Cold North Sea Of Love / Bleak Are The Bells

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