Baby I Call Hell was the first song female duo Deap Vally ever wrote, so it has a special place in their hearts. This is a recent re-recording of the song, a process they found fun, but at the same time they were also wary about losing its original magic. I have to admit that I have not heard the original, but to my ears there's no need to, as this new version plays out as an absolute stomper of a tune. Heavy on the guitars and with more than a hint of blues swagger, the vocals roar through with gusto and then pin you down with a wordless hook.
The single is taken from the band's album SISTRIONIX 2.0, which is a complete re-recording of their debut album from 2013. Sadly, the album acts as the band's swansong, as the members have decided the time is right to move on from this project, to escape the hamster-wheel of touring and recording. As they explain "That model isn’t compatible with our current lives. We found we just can’t function as a traditional band anymore. It was time for both of us to explore motherhood and other aspects of our lives and ambitions properly, rather than fitting it into our careers."
This is a worthy finale to the band that formed due to a chance meeting in a knitting class, the good news is that you still have a chance to catch Julie Edwards (drums and vocals) and Lindsey Troy (guitar and vocals) on tour throughout 2024. I may be fashionably late to the party, but I wish them well.