Dummy, the playful and dreamy electronic rockers from Los Angeles, have shared the first two tracks from their upcoming album do you love the color of the sky?. The songs, titled “April Limousine” and “Alluvial Fan,” arrive together in a single YouTube clip, but the band insists they stand apart.
The album is due October 16 on Polyvinyl. Lead single “Full Spectrum Dominance” already previewed the record’s ambition, and now the band’s lead guitarist, Joe Trainor, who also works as a publicist, has brought the Stereogum staff into contact with a lot of music we might have missed otherwise. Dummy’s 2024 album Free Energy left a lasting impression, and the new project looks set to continue that streak.
Opening With April Limousine
“April Limousine” opens the album with a hazy drum ‘n’ bass intro that sets a dreamy tone. Band member Emma Maatman describes it as a literal introduction to the record, packed with references to every other song, including the demos that didn’t make the final cut. She calls it the thesis statement for the album, ending with the question “do you love the color of the sky?”
The video, she says, is meant to show a dichotomy between the beauty of nature and the chaos of impending technological advancement. That tension runs through the album as a whole, setting up the central question that gives the record its title.
Alluvial Fan Follows
“Alluvial Fan” follows as a funkier, slacker-leaning mood piece. The two tracks don’t necessarily have to serve as a two-part suite. They’re distinct songs, though the video connects them through a narrative thread involving a mysterious force drawing Nathan O’Dell toward the wires around him.
Maatman directed the video for the two tracks. The visual concept, she explains, shows a contrast between the beauty of nature and the chaos of impending technological advancement.
Maatman On The First Track
Maatman’s description of “April Limousine” is explicit about its role in the album. She says it includes references to every other song, including the demos that didn’t make the final cut. That means the opening track functions as a map of the entire record, pointing forward to songs listeners haven’t heard yet.
The question “do you love the color of the sky?” closes the song. Maatman frames it as a thesis statement, which suggests the album is built around answering that question rather than simply posing it. The video, she says, is meant to show a dichotomy between natural beauty and technological chaos.
The video itself follows Nathan O’Dell as he’s drawn toward the wires around him.
O’Dell On The Second Track
Nathan O’Dell’s explanation of “Alluvial Fan” ties the song to a specific 2000s anime. He describes the lyrics as a hybrid of two ideas. The first draws on imagery from a certain 2000s anime where mass digital connection blurs the lines of our human reality and a sense of self. One can’t help but follow the humming wires further and further until they are completely lost in the “Wired” web.
The second idea comes from the phenomenon of alluvial fans. O’Dell calls them “sick” and encourages listeners to check them out. The track’s title reflects that geological image, even as the music moves in a funkier direction.
This hybrid approach gives the song a dual identity. It’s both a commentary on digital connection and a celebration of natural processes.
The Video And Its Meaning
Maatman directed the video for the two tracks. The visual concept, she explains, shows a contrast between the beauty of nature and the chaos of impending technological advancement.
The video follows Nathan O’Dell as he’s drawn toward the wires around him. Maatman describes the imagery as a contrast between the beauty of nature and the chaos of impending technological advancement. The two tracks are distinct pieces of music, though the video connects them through a narrative thread involving a mysterious force drawing Nathan O’Dell toward the wires around him.
The Album’s Title Question
The question “do you love the color of the sky?” closes the song. Maatman frames it as a thesis statement, which suggests the album is built around answering that question rather than simply posing it. The video, she says, is meant to show a dichotomy between natural beauty and technological chaos.
The title asks listeners to consider what they value most. Is it the natural world, or is it the technological future that threatens to erase it? The question itself is open-ended, and the album will need to provide an answer.
The Collaborators Behind The Tracks
The two tracks feature contributions from outside the core band. Allyson and Paul from New Issue provide silky smooth vocals on “Alluvial Fan.” Their presence adds texture to the song, giving it a smoother sound than the drum ‘n’ bass intro.
The collaboration extends beyond the music. Trainor’s publicist work has introduced Stereogum staff to a lot of music they might have missed otherwise.
What We Know About The Album
The full album do you love the color of the sky? is out 10/16 on Polyvinyl. The lead single “Full Spectrum Dominance” has already set expectations high. Now the first two tracks are available, and they confirm the record’s playful, dreamy direction.
The band’s approach is eclectic. They mix drum ‘n’ bass intros with funkier grooves, and they draw on anime imagery alongside geological concepts. The result is a record that moves between genres and ideas with ease.
- The album is due 10/16 on Polyvinyl
- Lead single “Full Spectrum Dominance” has already been released
- “April Limousine” and “Alluvial Fan” are the first two tracks
- Allyson and Paul from New Issue contribute vocals to “Alluvial Fan”
- Emma Maatman directed the video for both tracks
The release date is set, and the first two tracks are out now. The full album arrives on October 16, and the lead single “Full Spectrum Dominance” has already established a strong foundation.
The question posed by the title remains unanswered. The video shows a contrast between nature and technology, and the album promises to explore that tension further. Dummy have set the stage, and now the record itself will deliver the payoff.
Source material: “Dummy – “April Limousine” & “Alluvial Fan”,” Stereogum.
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