Let’s begin with a little art history: Dada, or Dadaism, is a cultural movement which began in Switzerland as a protest against WW I, or more precisely; a protest against the bourgeois nationalist and colonialist interests which in their opinion had lead to the war. Their antiwar politics was manifested in a rejection of the standards in art and a dedication to always represent the opposite – to abandon aesthetics where art was concerned with traditional aesthetics.

Musically Finnish quartet Rubik too have abandoned traditional aesthetics on their second full length ‘Dada Bandits’, the followup to acclaimed debut ‘Bad Conscience Patrol’ (2007). To a certain extend. It’s dizzying progressions, frail alt-folk torn by math-noise crescendos and taken new places by grand horn arrangements and quirky synth riffs, however, underneath is always displayed a brilliant knack for pop they couldn’t deny if they tried.

The eleven songs are a generously acrobatic fusion of an Arcade Fire-like feel, the theatricality of Queen or Sparks and free flowing absurdity of The Flaming Lips, often build on alt-folk á la Seabear/Sin Fang Bous and topped with the equilibristic aggression of The Mars Volta. But these all- and no-telling comparisons aside, ‘Dada Bandits’ and Rubik are just an amazingly complex and yet catchy listen.

Genre: Rock
Who: Rubik
Album: Dada Bandits
Label: Fullsteam Records
Year: 2009
Country: Finland
Language: English
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Recommended tracks:
Goji Berries – Wasteland – Indiana – Richard Branson’s Crash Landing – Karhu Junassa