Bubblegum Cistern – “SYZYGY”

Finding a record that captures genuine joy while staying totally unpredictable is rare, but “SYZYGY” by Bubblegum Cistern does exactly that. Eddie Stephenson and John Seeber have been close friends since third grade, and that long bond shows in how naturally they play together, and both balance full time jobs and raising two kids, yet they managed to record this full project right at home with their children running around in the background. That cozy home environment gives every single track an open, playful energy that is impossible to fake.

The album shifts effortlessly across different moods without ever losing its sense of fun. “Low Gravity” opens up the nine track list before moving into “Orbiting”, setting up a bright, expansive space for the rest of the music to explore. Later on, “Back to Phoenix”, “Lunar Bound”, and “Space Time Don’t Continuum” build up incredible momentum alongside the grounding bookend “High Gravity”. Out of the entire record, my two absolute favorites are “Tether” and “From Over the Sunrise”. On “Tether”, you can actually hear Eddie’s kid screaming in the background because they decided to keep the accidental recording in the final mix, which is such a funny and charming detail. Meanwhile, “From Over the Sunrise” brings unexpected salsa vibes before crashing into a heavy chorus. You also get “Re/Entry”, which brings a massive 80s stadium dance party energy with a wild breakdown before ending softly on a ukulele.

I genuinely love this release from start to finish. It is heartwarming, clever, and packed with pure personality. If you enjoy this album, I highly recommend giving Bubblegum Cistern a follow on their official pages right now so you can stay fully updated on all their new music and upcoming plans for the rest of this year. Eddie Stephenson and John Seeber are two amazingly talented, hardworking creators who bring so much real warmth and humor to their craft, and following along with their creative journey is going to be an absolute joy for any music fan.