Lucy Dreams are the pulsating successors to electronic pioneers like Pet Shop Boys and Empire of the Sun.
By Graeme Smith
They’re certainly not new to our blog, having hit our radar in 2024 with their unique take on the Arctic Monkeys’ Do I Wanna Know? Of course, the local angle was enticing, but it was the genuine quality of their cover that made me want to share it.
There are two people behind the band (Zero and One), but they are technically a trio. ‘Lucy’ is the third member, an artificial generative creative partner which allows the act to embrace emerging tech like AI without sacrificing their human soul. It’s novel, and a use that doesn’t replace human creativity but enhances it.
They’ve teamed up with award‑winning producer Mario Fartacek (Sinead O’ Connor, Eurythmics, Mick Jagger) for their latest album, VVVVV, the band’s next step on their ascent into the fifth dimension.
It opens with the reflective minimalism of You, As In Universalism. From there we launch headfirst into the moody synthpop of Stars which feels like an immediate expansion of the album’s universe. You get an early sense that VVVVV is going to be an epic one.
The lightness and funk of Not Gonna Lie is a highlight. As are the rich textures and layers of Calore. The tracks work well as a contrasting pair. Throughout, the band mix the organic with the synthetic, unafraid to deploy technology in meaningful ways. In an age where tools are so often misused, we really need this kind of thoughtful craft.
Yet it’s the vibrant electropop of Code To My Mind that stands out the most and is rightly positioned as one of the album’s single. It’s a welcoming yet angsty moment that arrives just as the album is readying for its climax. Punchy percussion and soft vocals create an inescapable groove.
Be Here Now closes the album with a subtle sense of Gothic horror and plenty of atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to round off the record’s story.
Innovation is the key facet of VVVVV. The band have styled themselves as “SonicWaveArtPop” and are every bit the innovators as the acts I mentioned at the top of this article. I’m so excited to see where they take their sound next, and how far they can push it.
You can keep up to date with all things Lucy Dreams via their website.
VVVVV is set for release on 6 February 2026.