Death Valley Girls’ pair their garage sound with self-salvation lyricism on Islands In The Sky

The song’s tone is a mish-mash of new wave and surfy punk akin to the Fred Schneider-fronted '80s futurists. “What are the odds that we live in a simulated world?” bandleader Bonnie Bloomgarden questions through the raw power of her rock 'n' roll vocal capabilities.

Quartet Death Valley Girls’ well-acquainted garage sound paired with self-salvation lyricism takes even more of a conscious spin with fifth album Islands in the Sky. Having her very own cosmic thing going on in late 2020, Bloomgarden found herself bedridden with an unknown illness. In reports, Bloomgarden claims to have started Islands in the Sky ushering it forward as a distant signpost featuring the songwriter’s love and appreciation for a future self. Later the album would be continued during a cabin writing session with drummer Rikki Styxx during late 2022.

The island, as mentioned on the title track “Islands in the Sky,” was the common spiritual theme for the glistening synth, and psychedelic guitars that follow through from steady opener “California Mountain Shake” to the '60s backbeat of “All That Is Not of Me” and beyond, the backing “oohs” crowded underneath the main vocal creating a rich bed for the jangly arpeggiated guitars.

Again on “Journey to Dog Star” Death Valley Girls sound more psychedelic than ever, with the added edge of stoner rock, the band continue their search for their own promised land, “the Island saves” Bonnie Bloomgarden chants hazelly. The celestial synths of “Magic Powers” meanwhile lend themselves to Caroline Rose’s LONER, with fuzzy guitars taking the track to new heights.

In retrospect, Death Valley Girls have collectively crafted a record worthy of their dusty Californian roots, an album which is a step up from any previous works featuring some of their most infectious jaunts.