It’s rare to hear a remix album that is as remarkably as good as — or might even exceed — its original form. Dummy’s Bubbelibrium DLC is far from a momentary distraction en route to wherever they’re headed next, however. Having followed the Los Angeles experimental noise-pop quartet every step of the way since breaking through the pandemic haze that was 2020 with two intentional introductory scene settings that merged vibrant currents of shoegaze, motorik post-punk, new age, and psychedelia through a coupling of EPs followed by their foundational debut full-length in 2021’s Mandatory Enjoyment, and ultimately, last year’s sophomore follow-up and best album of the year, Free Energy, it’s become glaring that the art of careful curation is a very important aspect in how the band wants their listeners to partake in their evolution with them.

While other artists are algorithm-bloating their original albums by releasing deluxe versions that are attach with a handful of remixes at the end, Dummy’s reinterpretation of Free Energy isn’t wasting listeners’ time. A dense, hour-long exercise that stretches out that Energy‘s full potential, the listen holds its space as its own distinct alternative universe that wonders how far its sound can travel through varying sonic shapes, color wheels, and moods. To do so, each song is given reign over by a complimentary collective featuring Dummy’s kindred experimentalists and recent tour mates. The spectrums cover anti-gravity noise-pop (Wishy’s “Deep Ecstasy Mix” of “Soonish”,) wilder electronic ambience (the amorphous substance of GMO’s “Gummy Remix” of “Unshaped Road” and that of currents cut up, spliced, and parsed back together (Donkey Basketball’s “Recursive Mix” of “Opaline Bubbletear”, Channeler’s “Low Density Mix” of “Nullspace”,) sun-warped trip-hop psychedelia (AV Moves’ “Wawa Mix” of Nine Clean Nails”,) and synthesizer-scorched cyber-punk (the Mall’s suitably-titled “Fucked World Mix” of “Minus World”.)

What Bubbelibrium DLC further achieves is an expansion not just on Dummy’s sonic universe, but also the core ethos of building a community within it. Tapping into other resources of creative energy, they’re introducing listeners to a cast of highly intriguing outsiders who also make you want to hear what they’re working on in their own regard beyond this listen. New characters and levels in sound unlocked, they’re idea of a remix album is to build new worlds within their own while helping cultivate others’.

Highlights: “Soonish… (Wishy’s Deep Ecstacy Mix)”, “Unshaped Road (GMO’s Gummy Remix)”, “Nine Clean Nails (AV Moves’ Wawa Mix)”

Dummy’s Bubbelibrium DLC is available now.

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