Green Pajamas - Carolers Song

by Geraint Jones

published: 18 / 12 / 2001

Label: Hidden Agenda
Format: CD

Until now, the Green Pajamas have eluded my attention. Having been together since 1984, on the basis of their new Christmas themed mini-album, ‘The Carolers’ Song, that’s definitely been my loss. Ori

Review

Until now, the Green Pajamas have eluded my attention. Having been together since 1984, on the basis of their new Christmas themed mini-album, ‘The Carolers’ Song, that’s definitely been my loss. Originally recorded last year and initially for sale just to the band’s fanclub, the album has now been justifiably released to a wider audience by Hidden Agenda, an imprint of Parasol Records (Green Pajamas can also be found on Parasol’s other seasonal compilation, ‘Stuck In The Chimney’ with their excellent Low-like rendition of ‘O Holy Night’). On ‘The Carolers’Song’, the Green Pajamas conjure a densely layered psychedelic and somewhat darker interpretation of Christmas and its traditions, utilising the irresistible sound of sleigh bells, foreboding organ and heavenly vocal harmonies in addition to the (un)usual use of bass, guitar and drums without ever neglecting to integrate the results in consistently memorable songs. On the traditional tune ‘Abbot’s Bromley’ they’ve even managed to record a rare example of the medieval psychedelia genre with an interesting mix of harpsichord and contemporary instrumentation. Interesting! ‘The Carolers’ Song’ is an extremely impressive work, albeit short, but on this basis I’ll have to investigate more of the Green Pajamas catalogue post-haste.