photo by Jennifer Medina

The last video from eclectic Brooklyn band Psymon Spine was full of dancing bodies and dizzying effects, enough to warrant a seizure warning (check out “Yoana” here, if you dare). The star of Psymon Spine’s latest video, however, is not a person, but a blank canvas. As “Eric’s Basement & Secret Tunnels” develops, splashes of paint appear and disappear, gradually building a world of color.

The video was created by artist Erin Barry, who also did the cover art for Pysmon Spine’s upcoming debut album, You Are Coming To My Birthday. Her stop-motion visuals fit the music so perfectly that out of context it could, at times, be hard to tell which came first.

Though the band incorporates lots of electronic elements into their unique psych-pop sound, there’s something about “Eric’s Basement & Secret Tunnels” that seems very connected to nature. Synths are certainly present, but act as a burst of sunlight rather than a call to dance in the dark. A pulsing heartbeat runs through the track, connecting the various melodies and influences woven in. Barry's chosen medium only adds to the natural theme; as the light catches wet paint, it looks like the shiny surface of a rock. Colors run and spill like a river, while you’ll swear you can hear the chatter of a creek somewhere in the background of the track. The beat opens up to a simple, singsong melody, and contrasted with splashes of watercolor it brings up powerful nostalgia, a reminder of an almost forgotten childhood. Whether you're watching, listening, or both, you'll feel something unexpected.

You Are Coming To My Birthday is out June 9th via Axis Mundi Records. Watch the video for "Eric's Basement & Secret Tunnels" below.

VIDEO REVIEWPsymon Spine "Eric's Basement and Secret Tunnels"