Skip to content
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

psychedelic Scene

psychedelic Scene Magazine

  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
Navbar
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts

Free Energy by Dummy: Album Review

PrevPreviousArtist Spotlight: Carley Fortier
NextBorn Horses by Mercury Rev: Album ReviewNext
  • Sandra Blemster and Allie Iverson
  • September 4, 2024
  • 6:24 am

Free Energy by Dummy: Album Review

Dummy, a four-piece rock band from Los Angeles, comprises Alex Ewell (drums, synths, bass), Emma Maatman (vocals, synths, organ), Nathan O’Dell (vocals, guitar, organ), and Joe Trainor (guitar, bass, synths). After the release of their 2021 debut album Mandatory Enjoyment, which received widespread acclaim from music publications, the band quickly attracted attention, leading to support slots for acts like Luna, Spirit of the Beehive, and Snail Mail.

Now, Dummy is set to release their highly anticipated second album, Free Energy, on September 6th, 2024, through Trouble in Mind Records.

The album opens with “Intro,” a track driven by a trance-like dance beat and a drum machine, punctuated by the playful sound of bubbles popping—a whimsical beginning that sets the tone for the unexpected. Track two, “Soonish,” stands out with its buzzsaw guitars, reminiscent of ’80s guitar-pop bands like The Primitives and early Lush. The song offers a quirky, psychedelic vibe, with jangly guitars, an opulent organ, and sweet vocals that create a fuzzy and engaging mood for the rest of the album.

“Unshaped Road” begins with a drum machine before transitioning into Lou Reed-like vocals that introduce a psychedelic wall of sound. The record is deeply trance-inducing, with mesmerizing electronic effects that draw listeners into its depths.
“Opaline Bubbletear” serves as a prelude to the next track, “Blue Dada.” “Opaline” opens with a dreamy, space-like ambiance, featuring a cosmic saxophone played by their friend Cole Pulice. “Blue Dada” then drifts into dreamy ambient pop before shifting tempo, evoking Stereolab halfway through. The male and female harmonies, poppy drone organ, and frantic crescendo make this track an aural journey.
“Nullspace,” accompanied by a suitably bubbly psychedelic video, dives into a ’90s-style dub atmosphere. The bubble effects heighten the experience, while “Minus World” revisits the Stereolab influence with its organ tones, monotone vocals, and electronic beats.

Fish-eye image of four people standing up with a square frame around it

The album is full of diverse sonic textures: “Sudden Flutes” is a cacophony of noise and urgent guitars that suddenly drops into a quieter space, where a flute emerges and redirects the track. “Dip In the Lake” is cinematic, with shimmering clipped sounds, harmonious piano, and layered vocals. “Nine Clean Nails,” the second single, stands out with its catchy beat.

Free Energy is a clever and infectious mix of tight beats, surreal vocals, and experimental, bubbly acoustics. Dummy will kick off their tour on September 7th.

 

Bandcamp

Dummy on Instagram

Gallery

Recent Articles

An image of two hippies, one young man and one young woman sitting on beanbags smoking a banandine joint in a den with wood paneling..

Acid Lore: The Great Banana Hoax

•
June 16, 2025
Two film outtakes on a split screen--one with a guy dressed as a clown carrying a briefcase, the other with a woman with peroxide blonde hair smoking a cigarette

Movie Club Release New EP Black Mamba with a Short Film

•
June 15, 2025
Brian Wilson in yellow shirt standing in the middle of two palm trees

Good Vibrations and Farewell: Remembering Brian Wilson

•
June 12, 2025
PrevPreviousArtist Spotlight: Carley Fortier
NextBorn Horses by Mercury Rev: Album ReviewNext
Loading...
  • Acid Lore, Columns

Acid Lore: The Great Banana Hoax

  • Paul Weatherhead
  • June 16, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Film, Music, Reviews

Movie Club Release New EP Black Mamba with a Short Film

  • Jeff Broitman
  • June 15, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Features

Good Vibrations and Farewell: Remembering Brian Wilson

  • Jason LeValley
  • June 12, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Music, Reviews

Glitch Wizard by Anton Barbeau–Album Review

  • Dominyka Mauliūtė
  • June 10, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Features, Podcast

Podcast: Dr. Gamble Hosts Psilocybin Therapist Bénédicte Mannix

  • June 7, 2025
  • One Comment
  • Features, Lists, Music

The Top 10 Active Jam Bands

  • Bill Kurzenberger
  • June 4, 2025
  • No Comments

video

Gallery

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Sign up for our Newsletter

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on trending stories, featured music articles, artist highlights and much more!

Contact Us

psychedelic Scene

Magazine

  • Home
    Home
  • About Us
    About Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
  • Art
    Art
  • Books
    Books
  • Music
    Music
  • Film
    Film
  • Interviews
    Interviews
  • Reviews
    Reviews
  • Lists
    Lists
  • Features
    Features
Copyright @ 2025 All Rights Reserved Psychedelic Scene Magazine

Designed & Developed by: SYNC Digital Management

psychedelic Scene

Magazine

Learn More About Psychedelic Sacred Sexuality

Buy The Book On Amazon