Video Of The Day CAMP SAINT HELENE
Camp Saint Helene is a Witchy Psych Folk band named after a now-defunct Christian summer camp-turned arts colony in the Catskill Mountains of New York, where they reside.
Following the group’s sophomore album last year, “Of Earth and its Timely Delights,” and the feature in Angel Olsen‘s somethingscosmic label “Cosmic Waves Volume 1” compilation, the four-piece, made of Elizabeth Ibarra (vocals), Dylan Nowik (vocals, electric guitar, percussion, saw), Wesley Harper (acoustic guitars, organ, effects), and Alex Wernquest (drums), drops a short film, by Silken Weinberg, to reveal Camp Saint Helene’s concurrent three-track EP, “Call For Me”, via their own label Misery Mother, recorded last winter in a brief waft of organic free-flowing creativity.
The trio of songs play out seamlessly in just over six minutes starting with “Call For Me”, an ethereal and stirring classic folk tune led by spellbinding, vibrant wistful female vocals that vulnerably long for comfort, whilst gracefully gliding over sparkling arpeggiated guitar melodies, nostalgic woodsy thin blows and muted lilting knocking hits, to gently rock, like a cradle, guarded by celestial veils.
“Three Clouds Pass the Sun” blends evocative, organic vocal radiations, growing stronger with each breath, with multiple drone tones and tinkling chimes, to evoke a timeless aura of transformation and mystery.
The late ’60s psych-rock tinged “She Wears Gold” dips into a swirling mind-expanding, metaphysical aura, spiced with exotic Middle Eastern incantations, churned by energetic acoustic strums, and heady reedy organ sweeps, whilst dizzy shape-shifting vocals talk about the often-times daring self-discovery process of looking in the mirror.
In the Official Film for the “Call For Me” EP, director Silken Weinberg sets a mossy lakeside forest as the mythical backdrop for Stephanie Ibarra and Elizabeth Ibarra, as they frolic in white gowns while innocently holding hands. As the song changes, the moon rises, darkness falls, and shadows appear, bringing forth a sense of mystery around Camp Saint Helene as they walk in a single file line through the woods. Finally, color arrives along with the last song to depict a Psych indoor jam session cast in trippy lights, warped perceptions, and an array of vintage organic instrumentation.
Keep up with Camp Saint Helene:
Photography by Angela Ricciardi & Silken Weinburg
