Third Eye favorites Elkhorn returned in early August with The Red Valley, a tight set of six studio recordings in various moods featuring many new sound textures released via Virginia-based VHF Records. Drew Gardner and Jesse Sheppard’s Elkhorn duo have been busy lately, and it’s always a joy to hear new music from them.
Elkhorn’s prolific output since 2016 has firmly established its reputation for crafting expansive, acoustic-driven hypno-jams with a focus on immersive live performances. A notable highlight in their discography includes their collaboration with Pelt’s Mike Gangloff on the Shackamaxon Concert LP.
The Red Valley offers something different—a richer, more intricately layered psych-folk guitar soundscape. The duo extensively overdubs their dual guitar foundations, creating a deep, textured experience.
The LP starts with “Crystal Hummingbird,” a mesmerizing track that unfolds with one of Elkhorn’s signature minor-modal vamps. Layers of fuzz bass, zither, and frame drum add weight, bringing a kaleidoscopic density to the mix.
“Gray Salt Trail” maintains this hypnotic energy, with thick, fuzz-drenched vibraphone expanding the sonic palette. It leads effortlessly into “Black Wind of Kayenta,” where Sheppard’s electric 12-string and Gardner’s acoustic guitar solos create an airy yet grounded atmosphere to close out the first side.
On side two, “Road to Chaco Canyon” opens with a brooding, rhythmic pulse as Gardner’s insistent frame drum drives the track forward. The quiet, reflective “Inside Spider Rock” slows things down, featuring the ethereal, swirling harp of Fern Knight’s Jesse Sparhawk. The LP wraps up with the graceful “Jackrabbit Hops,” a perfect finale to this sonic journey.
The Red Valley’s intricate layering and rich textures offer a fresh perspective on the Elkhorn duo’s signature sound, showing their continued growth as musicians and composers.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their hypnotic jams, the duo’s latest record invites you to immerse yourself in its carefully woven melodies and expansive atmospheres. You can never go wrong with an Elkhorn record, and Drew and Jesse prove once again why they’re making some of the best instrumental music in the New Weird American underground today.
Check out The Red Valley by Elkhorn on Bandcamp here.
Elkhorn: Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Official Site
VHF Records: Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Official Site
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