Categories
GUEST EDITOR

From The Desk Of The Green Pajamas: “Rocking Horse” By Kelli Ali

Like its Southern California influences in the Paisley Underground (Rain Parade, Three O’Clock), named as an homage to the psychedelic heyday of Jefferson Airplane and Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Green Pajamas must hold the world’s record for most albums (somewhere around 30) recorded by a band with the fewest number of live appearances (somewhere more than 30) over a career that has spanned almost 30 years. Jeff Kelly and Co. recently released longplayer Death By Misadventure via longtime Pajamas label Green Monkey. Kelly and bandmates Laura Weller and Eric Lichter will be guest editing magnet magazine.com all week. Read our recent feature on them.

Kelly: A few weeks before he died, Camera Obscura Records chief and friend Tony Dale turned me on to the album Rocking Horse by Kelli Ali. My wife Susanne and I were in Australia spending what turned out to be Tony’s final days with him. His wife Carol was taking all of us on various road trips around the state of Victoria. They lived about 50 minutes from Melbourne by car. Halfway between that city and their beautiful country home lay the legendary Hanging Rock, a place Susanne and I very much wanted to see. So one morning we all head off to see it in Carol’s Forester, and Tony says in a barely audible morphine-whisper, “Carol, put Rocking Horse on.” And then, “Jeff, I know you’re going to absolutely love this record!”

I said, “OK, great,” thinking, “I might like it but at the same time worrying that this might be one of those artsy folk records with a lot of wispy singing, little melody and no pizzazz.” I didn’t need to worry. He already knew.

The album starts off wispy and folksy enough, in a major key with guitar and flute. But in little time you realize you’re hearing something different. After two or three more spins you know you’re hearing something extraordinary. Even listening to “September Sky” right now, as I write this, I’m getting goose bumps.As you replay this record again and again, the haunting lyrics and beautiful arrangements seduce you, in every song. “September Sky” is perfectly Victorian in its poetry and plaintive tune:
“She’ll not worry for this world anymore
Quite still she lies and sunlight spills on the floor”
And:
“No more blue days, no more kisses goodbye”

The title track sounds like creepy dark fog seeping in from some fairy realm, and indeed the singer sounds a lot like a fairy throughout the album.
“Prophet in the looking glass
Show us what will come to pass
Oh, this world is at an end
You’re a rocking horse my friend”

“Heaven’s Door” reminds me of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac in a very good way. In other words, to use the cliché: the coolest song Stevie Nicks never wrote. I also wonder to myself about the Nick Drake-esque “Flowers,” my favorite song on the record: Is it about Kelli’s late father?
“Here are some flowers for your raven black hair
Burning daisies in my heart
What shall we do with the moon and the stars
Floating over our heads
Where do you walk now in the garden of souls
Smoking your last cigarette
Save me a bottle I’ll be with you soon
Drinking a toast to the end”

Again, I’m getting chills listening to this as I transcribe the lyrics.

Tony told us that “Water Under The Bridge” was the song he thought might most represent him when he was gone. He said it was his song. Brilliant musicianship prevails here along with Kelli’s amazing voice. The melodies and lyrics are second to none, the production faultless. This is a magical record. Thanks,Tony!

Videos after the jump.