Dubinski

What’s your definition of happiness? Is it acceptance from someone else or of yourself? Is it the feeling that you’re OK with whoever you are at any given time? Maybe it’s the thirst to grow from experience and changes that are on the horizon. Or is it just being able to enjoy being in the moment?

These are big questions that, to be addressed with any level of success, need tackling by a special band. Welcome to the new album by Dubinski. A simpler answer to finding happiness could be to just put Dubinski’s album on. In examining the concept of happiness, the brothers have created an album that opens with a synthpop banger about societal injustice, then takes a host of intriguing twists and turns before concluding with the achingly beautiful finale, Safety In The Comfort Zone.

The album opens with a plea for societal unity while decrying structural injustice (highlighted with a sample of iconic trade unionist Arthur Scargill), then turns to more personal songs, tracks about twisted romance and the perils of trying to survive as a DIY live band. Everything is set to a compelling, invariably infectious soundtrack which fuses elements of LCD Soundsystem, Parquet Courts, The Clash, Maximo Park and Paul Simon. Those influences meld into Dubinski becoming their own unique force, while being able to stand alongside socially conscious, fierce bands such as Fontaines D.C, Benefits and Yard Act as artists whose music combines big anthems with strong principles.

“A lot of these songs have something bittersweet to them,” considers singer Eugene Gaine, the youngest of Dubinski’s four brothers. “It’s a record of love, happiness, pain, sorrow, grief, healing, growth and acceptance.” We wanted to tell a story with this album, and the flow is similar to the way the seasons change.”

Having gained acclaim from 2022’s self-titled debut, the band wanted to broaden their sound. Synths are to the fore across these 12 songs, with mellotron helping to fuse Dubinski’s new and different elements. The anthemic Physical Scars and swaggering funk of Mistaken For Trouble helped sonically set the tone in establishing a groove to the album. There’s also room for more lyrical, chilled moods, like the tender Making Luck, written when “I was in love, but feeling helpless,” notes Eugene. The opening verse of the rampaging single Homesick proclaims “They were throwing darts at Putin.” – this isn’t a slick metaphor, as Dubinski really did witness that happen to an effigy of the dictator. “We were taken aback seeing that,” admits drummer Eoin. “We live in Edinburgh, and it shows how sheltered we are. It’s easy to forget the reality of people’s lives in other countries.” Dubinski’s political side surfaces again in Action Comes To Town, singing of leaving your hopes at the door and dying for queen and country, and just like Homesick and Downtown Operation, it’s wrapped in a bulletproof melody. “Although some songs are politically driven, we want them to be accessible,” insists Eugene. “We didn’t want this to be a political album, as it’s just one aspect of society. We simply wanted to address the different areas of our lives as we live it.