SONG PREMIERE: Death Doula offers dreamy indie rock reflections on “Dory Joins Alfred”

Love spell is the debut album by Death Doula, a dark art-rock band from Portland, Oregon. The new album was recorded at Jackpot Studios by Adam Lee (Built to Spill, Sleater-Kinney) and mixed by Bob Cheek (Deftones, Band of Horses). It will be released on September 20th by Death Doula Records via digital download and streaming platforms.

Kerry Jones had a crush on his best friend. Kyle List didn’t mind and asked her to work with him in his tiny home studio anyway. By the end of the evening, they were in love and had recorded a demo of “Disembark,” which became the first single from Love spellThree weeks later, he moved to Portland to live with her, with no plan other than a hunch that music would take them somewhere.

Two years later, they recruited the experienced rhythm section of Keith Vidal on bass (Marjorie Faire, Nyles Lannon) and Adam Kozie on drums (Pollens, Crystal Beth) and adopted the name “Death Doula”. The music they created showcased their shared love of artists such as Can, Television, Jeff Buckley, The Cranberries, Deerhunter, Kate Bush, The Sundays and Deftones, but remained entirely new sonically.

Today Slide is the premiere of Death Doula’s latest single, “Dory Joins Alfred,” a gorgeous work of dreamy indie rock that deals with a dying grandmother and deep reflections on what a life well lived looks like from two generations away. Kerry Jones sings in a way that balances soulful pop with rocker cool, while the band conjures moody, atmospheric instrumentals in the background. The result is a song that’s haunting and somber, but still manages to soar with its full sound and swelling energy.

It’s impossible to fully comprehend: My maternal grandmother was a young girl during the Great Depression, had three children and four grandchildren who adored her, and a loving husband who danced with her for nearly 70 years until he died. After Alfred died, I suffered from dementia for several years, and her condition slowly worsened until Dory’s own death. For years, I had fond memories and wished for the return of the grandma I knew. So many in our generation are having similar experiences with their elderly loved ones as dementia becomes more common. Although their bodies remain, where do they go? – Kerry Jones

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