Death Valley Girls - Under the Spell of Joy - Kelly Green Color Vinyl Record

The album begins with “Hypnagogia,” a beautiful tribute to that magical space between sleep and wakefulness, where we can explore other realms of consciousness. The song gradually unfolds, guided by the steady pulse of bassist Pickle (Nicole Smith) and drummer Rikki Styxx. Delightfully trippy saxophone sounds from guest musician Gabe Flores dance above the lush organ drones created by guest keyboardist Gregg Foreman. Right from the start, the band sets the tone for Under the Spell of Joy, with Bonnie Bloomgarden’s enchanting melodies supported by a choir, crafting a rich and vibrant wall-of-sound experience. As the song builds on its captivating foundation, it bursts into a lively celebration at the four-minute mark. The intriguing energy of the opening track gives way to the ecstatic rocker “Hold My Hand,” where verses reminiscent of Velvet Underground’s “I’m Waiting For The Man” explode into triumphant and uplifting choruses. From there, the band transitions into the title track, combining the rawness of The Stooges with a sweet innocence, as a children’s choir joyfully chants the album’s central mantra “under the spell of joy / under the spell of love.” Death Valley Girls beautifully navigate between lightness and darkness, and on “Bliss Out,” they showcase their current joyful energy with a sun-kissed pop song driven by an irresistibly cheerful organ line from keyboardist The Kid (Laura Kelsey). A similar cosmic bliss is found on “The Universe,” where alternating organ chords elevate the soaring saxophone and keyboard melodies high into the stratosphere. If you’re on the hunt for music that transcends, you’ve found the perfect gem right here.

• HYPNAGOGIA
  
• HOLD MY HAND
  
• UNDER THE SPELL OF JOY
  
• BLISS OUT
  
• HEY DENA
  
• THE UNIVERSE
  
• IT ALL WASHES AWAY
  
• LITTLE THINGS
  
• 10 DAY MIRACLE CHALLENGE
  
• I'D RATHER BE DREAMING
  
• DREAM CLEAVER