Welcome to So Long Seven’s third album. As it gets comfortable in your paws I wonder if I can tell you some stuff. You don’t have to read it but the guys would prefer if I made good use of the space. Your silent approval would go a long way to keeping me out of trouble.

Patrick Mazimhaka was a dear friend of my family when I was growing up. In the eighties my parents would take us on camping trips every summer and my sister would be without her soap operas for about three weeks. Patrick diligently went over every few days to change the tapes in the VCR so she would not miss a single episode. He was a prince of a man and as generous and thoughtful as they come. This song is dedicated to his memory as well as to the past, present, and future of his wife Jolly and their daughters: Anne, Joan, and Sharon.

Ravi is very taken with the artwork of Kenojuak Ashevak. So an amazing artist inspired some amazing music. It was quite something to discover just how ingenious a piece of music this tune would become. If it was a drawing you would never take your eyes off it. You might have to move in with it . . . that might be awkward. Good thing it is reproducible audio.

It is easy to find an anecdote that recounts how Ashevak would draw without an eraser as her strokes were so precise it seems one was never required. Though we can’t claim to have nailed that approach as a band we did make it through due, in no small part, to the existence of The Enchanting Owl and its maker.

A super tusker elephant whose code name was F-MU1 died of natural causes, in Kenya, in October of 2017. Apparently she would have been named based on where she was from but such a name would not be made public in order to keep her safe. So the code name was used. She was also called “The Queen of the elephants” but there have been a number of perfect elephant queens, thankfully, so the title cannot narrow it down. Only Elephants Know Her Name was written for her and our desire for her real name to sing — whatever it is. Tim’s solo on this one is one of the high points of the album. Be sure to make your ears pointy as it begins at 2:14.

L’unique étoile de la tolérance comes from the mind of William. As everyone knows, tolerance can be in short supply and a well-chosen star would be an excellent candidate to lead us to more of it. Headphones and an ottoman for this one. Excellent work by the demon!

It is a common sentiment to feel that one lives in a circus. Mara is an elephant who actually lived in a circus until 1995 when she moved to a zoo in Argentina. During the pandemic she moved, again, to a sanctuary in Brazil. I wrote this one with Samidha. Her beautiful melody recites a Ganesh prayer that her mother taught her. One other detail is that, when Samidha played her mom the tune, she said it “reminded her of an elephant walking”. Not a bad puzzle piece I have to say.

Ravi’s in person introduction to Frolic of the Monsoon Frogs is something one should not miss at one of our gigs. The song is brought forth via a childhood memory of puddles full of dancing frogs following a monsoon in India. I encourage you to hear Ravi tell it. When we recorded this Ravi was under the weather and was concerned this affected his playing. It did not. His playing here is exquisite to the extent that, during the session, William suggested he be under the weather more often.

We were all very excited when Tim got a gourd banjo. Tim is a magical individual and musician. His tune, World Now (We’re Old), is a beautiful piece of music that demands headphones as well. If the band is ever gripped by uncertainty then Tim is the first to shake it off and take whatever plunge is necessary be it musical or otherwise. If ever you are feeling down then try raising a glass to Tim. He would do the same for you.

I played an early demo of Ghost Ocean for my wife, Rachael, to see what title might come to mind. “Ghost Ocean” she said. So that was that.

We thank you very much for listening and we cherish the idea of crossing paths with you. Take care of yourself.

Sincerely,

neilien the palindrome