Their music provokes similar sensations to Stereolab’s pensive kraut-pop and Broadcast’s swirling psych-pop, and although it may be hard for some listeners to shake those comparisons, Dummy’s forward-thinking approach and broad set of reference points largely prevent them from flying too close to those respective suns.ĭummy released two EPs in 2020-their self-titled debut and subsequent EP2-which display their playfully unpredictable side and a familiar warmth. Over the past two years, Dummy have released reliably interesting drone-pop, marked by synths that fizz away as their guitars and percussion lock into stimulating pulses. But Dummy’s noise-pop, ambient and new-age leanings are where they diverge from the classic New York City band. Los Angeles five-piece Dummy not only share the Velvets’ well-crafted fusion of avant-garde and accessible sounds, but also their krautrock-like propulsion and rough-edged sonics. The Velvet Underground are an obvious example, employing drone, strange tunings and a smudged production style alongside tried-and-true pop conventions. However, it’s no secret that bands who successfully crack this code frequently stand the test of time. This means that any marriage of the two worlds requires a delicate balance.

Experimental music, on the other hand, often makes sonic choices that are antithetical to those same pleasure centers, utilizing challenging sounds or sequences that evade traditional pop structures to prompt new sensory experiences. Songs are arranged with a knowledge of how to trigger the brain’s pleasure centers, which in turn heightens the emotions of the lyrics.

Pop music’s truest essence is arguably its emotional immediacy.

Paint dripped down skull music video