While the legend of the Elephant 6 Recording Co. is often written in the distorted, maximalist hues of Athens, Georgia, some of its most sophisticated exports emerged from the leafier, more cerebral corridors of Brooklyn. The Essex Green’s 1999 debut, ‘Everything Is Green,’ was, and remains, a guide to contemporary baroque psych-pop.
Decades after its initial split release via Elephant 6 and Kindercore, the album has been rescued from the precarious world of out-of-print collector priced items. It returns as the flagship release for Dust and Memory, Álvaro Lissón’s new reissue imprint from Meritorio Records. This vinyl edition is not merely a nostalgia play; it is a restoration of a record that serves as a bridge between the kaleidoscopic ’60s and the indie-pop renaissance of the turn of the millennium.
‘Everything Is Green’ possesses a singular, snow globe quality, a self-contained world of pastoral perfection. Unlike the aestheticized clutter of their Athens cousins, The Essex Green (much like their contemporaries and frequent collaborators The Ladybug Transistor) favored precision and understated beauty. The record is an intricate construction, pilfering from the most gilded tiers of pop history with the surgical grace of an art thief. Throughout the tracklist, one hears the ghosts of the ornate arrangements of The Left Banke in “Casper” and “The Late July.” The use of woodwinds and chamber-pop strings adopt the “Baroque-Pop” ethos of the mid-60s, where the band applied classical music sophistication to a 3-minute pop structure. Like The Left Banke, they use the harpsichord and flute not as ornaments, but as essential melodic drivers.
Or look to the studio wizardry of Van Dyke Parks in the track “Primrose.” This is where the band leans into the psychedelic “snow globe” feeling. It’s about the layering of sound—brass fanfares, shimmering percussion, and reverb-soaked textures that create a 3D sonic image. It captures that vibe where the production feels like an architectural feat. “Big Green Green” captures the band excelling at the interlocking of coed vocal harmonies of The Mamas and The Papas. There is a specific sun-drenched yearning in their vocals; a mix of optimism and a subtle, late-summer melancholy that mirrors the vocal arrangements of John Phillips. Subtle nods to Ye-Ye pop and the cinematic swoon of ’60s girl groups, imbuing the record with a sophisticated, cosmopolitan flair in tracks like “Tinker” where there is a certain wistful, European elegance present. It’s a hip detachment paired with a catchy, rhythmic strum. It’s less “American Garage” and more “Parisian Café,” showcasing the band’s cosmopolitan Brooklyn roots.
The band’s refusal to skimp on arrangements is what separates this debut from the era’s more indie offerings. The record is dizzying in its instrumental depth, layering brass, flutes, and organs over chime-laden guitars. Yet, for all its technical density, ‘Everything Is Green’ retains an essential ease. It captures a moment of small-scale wonder just before the band’s eventual signing to Merge Records, offering a glimpse into a time when baroque-pop felt less like a period piece and more like a living, breathing language. For listeners attuned to the lineage of The Apples in Stereo or the wistful elegance of Camera Obscura, the melodic clarity here is indispensable.
To listen to ‘Everything Is Green’ in 2026 is to be reminded that pop music can be both intellectually rigorous and unashamedly sweet. It is a record of delicate melodies that have survived the erosion of time with its charm entirely intact. Through this reissue, what was once a fading echo of the Brooklyn underground has become a vibrant, tangible reality. The Dust and Memory edition honors this distinction perfectly. The transparent lime vinyl and restored liner notes act as a physical manifestation of the album’s “green” themes—pastoral, fresh, and enduring. This reissue is a reminder that even within the most famous musical movements, there are hidden pockets of refinement waiting to be rediscovered.
Learn more here:
The Essex Green – Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Dust and Memory – Website | Bandcamp | Instagram
