Dummy - “Nine Clean Nails”

Dummy came about somewhat unassumingly. They self-released two untitled cassette EPs during the early days of the pandemic that were heavily influenced by the likes of Neu, shoegaze, The Magnetic Fields, and Stereolab. In summation, it was really, really good, and early listeners like myself wore the cassettes out. They’ve since linked up with Trouble In Mind (a label that, in my opinion, has never put out a bad record) for their 2021 debut full-length, Mandatory Enjoyment, and their recently released second album, Free Energy. My favorite track on the new record is the penultimate tune, “Nine Clean Nails,” which feels like a throwback Dummy tune, if that’s even possible for a project that’s only five years old.

Dummy tried to build off of their Krautrock foundations on Free Energy. They certainly succeed in doing that well on the record, just check out the smooth “Opaline Bubbletear” and the pulsing “Blue Dada” as examples of their growth and genre versatility. But I find they’re at their strongest when they’re exploring those original influences. “Nine Clean Nails” Emma Maatman’s vocals are translucent and mesmeric, while the motorik rhythm section adds to the track’s spellbinding quality.

Stream the track below!

You can purchase Free Energy on vinyl via Bandcamp. The album is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with Dummy by following them on Instagram.