Fresh off the release of their fourth album ‘Bots’, New Zealand’s Pickle Darling returns with ‘crumple zones’, a companion EP that reimagines and expands the record’s sonic landscape. Where ‘Bots’ was carefully assembled, this new collection leans into immediacy and live energy, offering alternate versions, acoustic reinterpretations, and a collaboration with Father/Daughter labelmate Anna McClellan.
“massive everything (alternate version)” reframes the original with lush guitars and Nashville tuning, exploring the emotional “crumple zones” we build to protect ourselves. Meanwhile, “human bean (alternate version)” strips things back to delicate fingerpicking, revealing a softer core. On “pinwheels (featuring Anna McClellan),” the long-awaited collaboration unfolds with an intentionally messy charm, Anna’s vocals recorded casually on a phone, background noise intact, creating a warm, nostalgic intimacy.
The EP also extends into the visual realm, with artwork inspired by layered woodcut prints that experiment with color and texture, echoing the songs’ exploratory spirit. Approached as a weekend workshop rather than a traditional album cycle, ‘crumple zones’ captures Pickle Darling in a playful, expansive mode, free from pressure and open to possibility.