by Kris Handel (@khandel84)
Crystal Rabbit Moon is the fourth full length from gobbinjr. With their latest, Emma Witmer and company continue to expand upon their introspective bedroom pop and intriguingly quirky melodies. One of Witmer’s biggest artistic strengths is how unafraid she is to delve deep into her inner world and turn insecurities into moments of beauty and humor in a creative and engrossing manner. Witmer has a way with wobbling song structures that seem like they are ready to fall apart at any moment, yet they persevere with heart and a sense of purpose. The songwriter has an almost unflinching ability to turn the most crushing insecurity into a highly relatable lesson or humorous moment.
“Happened Yet” kicks off the record with a repeating three-note piano plink before fading into blooping synths and effects as Witmer’s dreamy and vulnerable vocals sweep over deep bass lines. Gobbinjr blend all sorts of percussion and stop/starts into this woozy soundscape and distorted haze as vocals and samples fade in an out alluringly into an electro-psych wonderland. “Spit” has a bit of a wobbly dance cadence as Witmer’s vocals take an altered, child-like tone as handclaps and twitchy beats drop ominously. The kaleidoscopic surroundings play into the otherworldly and anxious bad dream like chaos, the song never stops swerving or throwing something completely unexpected into the spokes, which makes it a truly incredible journey for your ears.
“The Bong Song” slowly burbles along slippery guitar lines and piping keys. Drum machine cymbals skitter, Witmer’s vocals are dressed in reverb, and keyboards add a bit of chime as the vocals flow in and out. The dream-like atmosphere is entrancing, as the sparse-yet-persistent booming and lithe guitar lines lay a soft pillow for Witmer’s fuzzy, choral-like reflections. “Keep Turnin’” has Witmer’s multi-tracked vocals come off as an internal conversation, as she tries to keep grounded amid self-doubt. A wheezing keyboard is combined with a jumpy guitar pattern that carries a twee-punk feel to this skewed and slightly biting tune.
It’s been eight years between gobbinjr’s last release Ocala Wick, and Crystal Rabbit Moon finds Witmer adding so many additional colors that are a joy to wrap your head around. These tracks are subversively poppy as Witmer’s musical world is one that is full of cracks and pot holes, creating a playful and adventurous record that is hard to predict. Witmer pushes bedroom pop into new, unpredictable directions and her vocals are so easy to get lost in with their stunning textures and techniques. With Crystal Rabbit Moon, Whitmer and gobbinjr encourage listeners to let go of themselves and join their bewildering psych dreamscape full of humor, heart and unease. It’s easy to lose yourself in gobbinjr’s world and drift away into an untethered and colorful place of beauty.