Canadian indie rock outfit Task Manager may have a name rooted in cold, hard logic – but their music is anything but clinical. New single “DUMMY” is the third in Task Manager’s album rollout, and was written and recorded during late-night hostel sessions in their hometown of Penticton, British Columbia.
“DUMMY” is a song about returning to a destructive cycle despite knowing you need to stop, and it delivers a glorious blend of tangled guitars and heartfelt emotions.
The song jolts into life, revealing a crisp, yet brooding atmosphere. Everything moves together, creating waves of melody that wash over me like warm ocean currents.
Jeremy Head’s vocal blends so well into the track – it’s part of the fabric – alternating between a twang and a silky warmth.
“what’s it like there? in your mind
what do i care? i’ll be fine
in this nightmare”
Suddenly, things get super close and super wide – it feels like the guitars are all around me, almost touching my ears. The tension increases as the vocal becomes a chant, “There’s no going back there,” then “I can’t keep going over it.”
The subtle changes in mood really make this feel alive. The song keeps shedding its skin in a stream-of-consciousness-like fever, but each instrument is perfectly placed, so it’s easy to follow each thread where it leads.
The odd drones, reversed guitar sounds, and hypnotic final section feel like I’m walking with some kind of haunted procession, eyes closed, head down.
A cautionary tale, a strange ritual, or the soundtrack to an approaching menace, “DUMMY” is regret and internal retribution on a loop. It’s utterly relatable and beautifully realised.
Written by Grubby
