Last week, Angel Olsen announced Cosmic Waves Volume 1, out December 6th via somethingscosmic. Cosmic Waves Volume 1 is a compilation project consisting of both new, original songs from Camp Saint Helene, Poppy Jean Crawford, Coffin Prick, Sarah Grace White, and Maxim Ludwig on Side A, and a collection of covers from the aforementioned artists performed and recorded by Olsen on Side B. The artists on Cosmic Waves Volume I draw from a sprawling, myriad sounds, eras and inspirations, and unsurprisingly, each song illuminates a new artist Olsen finds spectacular. Hearing Olsen refract the artists’ songs back to them reveals the depth of Olsen’s imagination, while spotlighting multiple exciting artists at work.
On the heels of “Glamorous” by Poppy Jean Crawford and “The Takeover (Poppy Jean Crawford Cover)” by Angel Olsen come two new songs from the compilation: the beautiful, big sky folk-oriented “Wonder Now” by Camp Saint Helene and “Farfisa Song (Camp Saint Helene Cover)” by Angel Olsen.
Created by Elizabeth Celeste Ibarra, Dylan Nowik, Wesley Harper and Alex Wernquest, Catskills, NY-based Camp Saint Helene approach their craft akin to a ritual, leaning into the notion that art and expression are sacred experiences on an overstimulated planet. Often informed by the spirit of a defunct Christian-summer camp turned arts-colony deep within the mountains of New York, their music searches for shimmers of hope amidst hints of doom and invites listeners on a journey of self-discovery amidst shifting perspectives.
Describing her introduction to Camp Saint Helene, Angel says “We were driving to Trust, NC to shoot the cover and campaign for Big Time and Silken Weinberg and Angela Ricciardi were introducing me to some projects they were about to work on – one being for the band Camp Saint Helene, an album that was the perfect backdrop of cult folk for our adventure into the wild mountains of Buncombe county. After our shoot wrapped, I kept coming back to the record and feeling like it had encapsulated the memory of a chapter ending, and when I want to go back to the days of sunset at max patch, I put it on.”
Watch Visualizer for Camp Saint Helene’s “Wonder Now”
Stream “Farfisa Song (Camp Saint Helene Cover)” by Angel Olsen
On the concept of a compilation reimagined as a dialogue, Olsen explains “I personally always learn something new about the process when I’m engaging someone else’s words and melodies in such a close way. It’s fun to write and make my own stuff, but listening to and putting myself into various different styles of songs can lead to new ways of thinking and creating.”
On December 6th, somethingscosmic will present the Cosmic Waves Volume 1 release show at In The Meantime in Los Angeles. The bill will include Camp Saint Helene, Sarah Grace White, Maxim Ludwig, Poppy Jean Crawford, Coffin Prick (DJ), and special guests.
Pre-order Cosmic Waves Volume 1
Stream “Glamorous” by Poppy Jean Crawford
Watch Visualizer for Poppy Jean Crawford’s “Glamorous”
Stream “The Takeover (Poppy Jean Crawford Cover)” by Angel Olsen
Keep your mind open.
[I wonder if you’ll subscribe today?]
[Thanks to Jaycee at Pitch Perfect PR.]