Blank Instrument makes peace with uncertainty on ‘Know Nothing’

There is a certain freedom in admitting there might not be a right answer. On ‘Know Nothing’, Australian songwriter Blank Instrument, the musical project of Kim Franklin, turns that realisation into a warm country-folk track about perfectionism, intuition and learning to live with uncertainty.

The third single from forthcoming debut album ‘Jumping at Ghosts’, ‘Know Nothing’ shifts the focus inward. Where earlier releases ‘Brand New’ and ‘Green and Blue’ were shaped partly by the memory of Franklin’s late friend Julie, this time she examines her own tendency to search endlessly for the perfect decision.

Musically, the song carries that reflection lightly. Hammond organ and acoustic guitar give it an earthy foundation, while subtle harmonies and lively drums keep things moving. There is warmth in the arrangement, but also a looseness that suits a song about giving up some degree of control.

Franklin describes perfectionism here not as an admirable personality trait, but something that can make even ordinary choices unnecessarily difficult.

“There is no amount of information that can make a decision easier, when you’re looking for a level of certainty that’s impossible to find.”

That idea even found its way into the recording process. While working on the track with drummer and percussionist Elliot Smith, Franklin invited Lee Jones to experiment with a glockenspiel despite having never played one before. The resulting hook stayed in the final recording, becoming a neat example of what can happen when finding the “right” answer matters less than following an instinct.

That small detail says plenty about ‘Know Nothing’. Blank Instrument is not arriving at some grand conclusion about how to make better choices. Instead, Franklin seems increasingly comfortable with the idea that several paths can be valid, and that certainty is not always available before taking the next step.

As ‘Jumping at Ghosts’ draws closer, ‘Know Nothing’ adds another side to the album’s emotional landscape. Thoughtful without becoming heavy, it finds something reassuring in accepting just how much remains unknown.

‘Know Nothing’ is out now, with ‘Jumping at Ghosts’ arriving October 23.