Heartbreak, grief, uncertainty, and the possibility of renewal form the emotional core of Jumping At Ghosts, the debut album from Boorloo/Perth songwriter Kim Franklin, who records as Blank Instrument. Developed over two and a half years, the 11-track collection grew from songs Franklin began writing without any initial plan to make a full-length record, gradually taking shape as a deeply personal reflection on relationships, mental health, and self-discovery. The process transformed her relationship with her own performance and songwriting, while the album carries a profound personal significance tied to the generosity of her late friend Julie.
“I’m shutting this door, I don’t know when it will open,” Kim Franklin’s delivery resonates in opening the album, with “Brand New” addressing a personal sense of aimlessness and ensuing cathartic renewal. “Just a blanket without a bed, here on the floor without you,” she lets out as the twangy guitars and organs continue to resonate. Musings on the difference between today and how tomorrow can be “brand new” are stirring, commencing the release with sincere emotionality in confronting the dependency of relationships and the ultimate revival of one’s self.
A consistent thematic hold continues on “Know Nothing,” where perspectives on uncertainty delight. “Can I trust my gut, is my intuition good enough?” her lead performance compels, remarking “the more I know, the more I see is missing.” An ongoing act of self-discovery seems in motion, from the opener’s reckoning with renewal to this track’s embrace of the unknown. Meanwhile, “Green and Blue” moves past the initial independence into melancholic, retrospective cravings for “a simpler time” when grief was absent. Prancing piano and moody lead tones emit a soaring charm here, reminding fondly of Mitski in its guitar twangs and waiting “for the waves to roll through” melodic harmonic resonance.
The highlights continue throughout the album, spanning a multitude of stylistic touches. “Invisible” struts a no-frills bluesy prowess, moving from tender guitars and solemn organs to reflective laments. “You left me outside, when you went to the party,” Kim Franklin’s delivery ruminates on a relationship that seems to be wearing down, asking “am I invisible?” with harmonica-touched ardor. Elsewhere, “Tears Still Flow” plays like a meditation for the broken-hearted and those dying inside, especially emphasizing Kim Franklin’s riveting performance and an ascending piano sequence. “I just want somebody to listen,” she exudes, capturing the sensation of searching far and wide, and “praying to the universe,” for a breakthrough.
“What Do You Really Need” is a poignant album closer, following up perspectives on renewal, uncertainty, and personal evolution with a reminder to slow down and not give in to societal urgings — namely, the oppressive daily grind and commercialized push for perfection. “It’s not a symbol of success, but we’re always reaching for it,” the lyricism captivates, pushing into a jangling delight of a title-centric hook. Full of fantastic songwriting and lived-in thematic prowess, Jumping At Ghosts is a fantastic album from Blank Instrument.
