Catskills-based outfit Camp Saint Helene introduced their psychedelic take on folk rock back in 2019 with the release of their debut album Mother, a collection that uniquely straddled the line between Nico’s vintage chamber-pop (largely due to vocalist Elizabeth Celeste Ibarra’s smoky croon) and Emma Ruth Rundle’s doom-shaded contemporary folk. Nearly five years later, the group will return with their sophomore release Of Earth and Its Timely Delights on May 10 via Misery Mother Records, with the swooning lead single “Anniversary”—featuring flute by El Michels Affair’s Leon Michels—introducing the band’s latest chapter.
Before the track officially lands tomorrow for Valentine’s Day, we’re getting an early listen via the debut of the single’s music video. In spite of the themes inherent to that holiday clearly feuling the senior-prom-set clip, directors Stephanie Ibarra and Anna Torzullo’s concept sees the band performing to an audience that’s consumed punch spiked with love potion, resulting in an epidemic of over-infatuation and, ultimately, widespread regurgitation Pepto Bismol–esque liquid as the band cooly plays on. In other words, just your typical prom.
“‘Anniversary’ is about desiring too much and instead spiraling toward over-attachment and, ultimately, destruction,” Ibarra shares. “Stephanie and Anna did an incredible job portraying that. In this prom-gone-wrong music video, a few witches cast a love spell leading to everyone's demise. Ultimately, ‘Anniversary’ is a reflection on obsession and delusion masquerading as ‘love.’”
Check out the gauzy video below, and pre-save the single before it officially drops tomorrow here.
