The good folks in Dummy, not content with giving us a few great albums and EP's, have today dropped a full remix album. The people behind the remixes are ones which fans of this band likely know, and the whole effort is surprisingly effective. Bubbelibrium DLC is then a new way of looking at a fine band's work.
Opener "Intro-UB (Three Quarter Skies Remix)" is light as air, the Slowdive drummer (Simon Scott, AKA Three Quarter Skies) giving this one a pillowy cloud of effects to rest on. The Wishy remix of "Soonish" is even better, making this lot sound a tiny bit like Medicine circa The Crow soundtrack. And I mean that in the best possible way. Elsewhere, a remix by Donkey Basketball (Isaac from Lifeguard) of "Opaline Bubbletear" from Free Energy is a real winner. The track is pulled apart and reconstituted, like the the "Brundle Fly" in Cronenberg's The Fly (1986), until what was recognizable is sorta there, but not. Skittish beats anchor this to a trip hop past, or maybe a dream. 4AD legends Insides have a run at "Sudden Flutes", also from last year's super Free Energy, and the results are the highlight of this whole set. Expansive and wildly inventive, this iteration of "Sudden Flutes" is the rare case where the remix may be as good as the original.
Bubbelibrium DLC worked better for me than I expected it would. Remixes are hit or miss. Thankfully, Dummy chose some clever collaborators here, or should I say "re-imaginers"? The remixes do bring new vibes to the tracks, and reveal possible new directions Dummy could choose. And I think this effort stands as a cool diversion until the group puts out all new music of their own.
Bubbelibrium DLC by Dummy is out today. Details below.
[Photo: Jason Watkins]